SuperSport HNL Starts Better Than All Expectations
The first seven matches of the new season produced 26 goals and no draws, with the young talents of Osijek, Lokomotiva, and Istra 1961 stealing the show.
The first seven matches of the new season produced 26 goals and no draws, with the young talents of Osijek, Lokomotiva, and Istra 1961 stealing the show.
The new SuperSport HNL season has kicked off in a way that has warmed the hearts of even the biggest skeptics. In the first seven matches played, fans witnessed 26 goals, an impressive average of 3.71 goals per game. What adds to the intrigue is that none of these matches ended in a draw, and in five of them, the net bulged at least three times.
This explosive start to the championship has delivered exactly what fans crave: pace, comebacks, and room for young players ready to take on responsibility.
After two rounds played, only Osijek and Lokomotiva boast a perfect six points. Particularly impressive is the team from Osijek, which has scored eight goals and conceded just one in two matches. After a routine 2-0 win over Gorica in the opening round, they followed up with a goal fest against Rudeš, winning 6-1.
The first standout individual of the season is Nail Omerović. The young Osijek forward has scored four goals in just 180 minutes on the pitch, including a hat-trick against Rudeš, quickly topping the scoring charts.
Alongside Osijek, Nikica Jelavić's side is also making waves. Lokomotiva first defeated Istra 1961 in Pula in a thrilling five-goal encounter (3-2), then followed up with a convincing 3-1 win over Gorica. With six goals in two rounds, the "Locos" are sending a clear message that bold, attacking football can be played outside the traditional circle of favorites.
Despite suffering a defeat in the first round, Istra 1961 deserves a special mention. At Drosina, they faced Lokomotiva with a starting lineup averaging just 21 years of age. Despite their youth, the Pula side played bravely and aggressively, refusing to use their inexperience as an excuse.
Fans witnessed a match with a total of 33 shots on goal. Istra twice equalized through goals from Emil Frederiksen, but it was Ivan Katić who snatched the win for the visitors in the dying moments. A particularly memorable performance came from 17-year-old Niko Škafar Žužić, whose spectacular goal was unfortunately ruled out for offside. Performances like these are the best advertisement for the league and proof that giving young talents a chance pays off.
The opening round immediately showed that favorites won't have it easy. Dion Drena Beljo, last season's top scorer, opened his account with two goals against Slaven Belupo in Dinamo's 2-0 win. However, the biggest surprise came from Varaždin, who beat Hajduk 2-1 at home, while Rudeš gave Rijeka a serious scare before the latter won by the same scoreline.
It quickly became clear that points will be extremely hard to come by on the road this season. In addition to the aforementioned results, the second round also saw the postponement of the derby between Rijeka and Dinamo, with Slaven Belupo vs. Varaždin and Hajduk vs. Istra 1961 scheduled for Sunday.
Although it's only early August and European commitments, injuries, and fatigue lie ahead, the first impression of the championship looks excellent. If SuperSport HNL can maintain even a fraction of this pace and continue to push young players into the spotlight, fans will have every reason to tune in even when the biggest clubs aren't on the pitch.
