Hajduk defeated Slaven Belupo 1-0 at Poljud in the seventh round of the SuperSport HNL, securing top spot in the standings. The sole and decisive goal was scored by Brazilian forward Dalisson, who netted in the 22nd minute of the match. With this victory, Gonzalo García’s side achieved a fifth consecutive league win, enough to overtake their rivals and take the lead in the title race.
The Whites have one point more than Osijek after this round, their main competitor for the top of the table. Compared to Dinamo and Varaždin, Hajduk holds a three-point advantage, having played one fewer match than those sides. Such a result significantly increased their chances of winning the championship, although players and the coaching staff emphasise that it is only the beginning of the season and that conclusions should not be rushed.
After the match, attacking midfielder Dalisson stated that his football role model is the Brazilian Ronaldinho, whose style of play he follows in his own career. The forward added that he may currently be playing the best football of his career so far, a claim supported by his performance on the pitch. His form is crucial to Hajduk’s attacking strength, as they continue to dominate the domestic championship.
Šimun Hrgović, another key player for the team, highlighted that Hajduk plays without stress, despite the pressure that comes with being favourites. Hrgović recalled that the club secured a place in European competition after 16 years, which is a significant achievement, but stressed that there is no pressure due to Dinamo’s slips. He believes it is only the start of the championship and that focus should remain on each individual match.
Hajduk travel to Rujevica in the next round to play Rijeka in the Adriatic derby. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 17:00, and Hrgović stated that the team is aiming for three points. This derby will be key to the further course of the championship, and Hajduk will attempt to maintain their lead at the top of the table and continue their run of successful results.
