Dinamo Zagreb Extends HNL Lead with Victory Over Hajduk Split

Split, Croatia – Dinamo Zagreb significantly tightened their grip on the Croatian Football League (HNL) title race with a decisive 3-1 victory over rivals Hajduk Split at Stadion Poljud on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The win extends Dinamo’s lead at the top of the table to 10 points with 11 matches remaining in the season.

The match, declared a high-risk encounter by police, saw all four goals scored in a lively first half. Dinamo Zagreb demonstrated early dominance, taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Miha Zajc in the 7th minute and Gabriel Vidović in the 11th. Even as Rokas Pukštas pulled one back for Hajduk in the 29th minute, Mounsef Bakrar restored Dinamo’s two-goal advantage before halftime.

Hajduk, playing in front of a packed home crowd, appeared sluggish in the opening stages, contrasting sharply with Dinamo’s aggressive and focused approach. This early intensity proved pivotal in establishing Dinamo’s control over the derby.

The visitors opened the scoring with a well-constructed move down the right flank. Bakrar’s pass found Zajc, who precisely placed his shot into the bottom left corner of the net, leaving Hajduk goalkeeper Silić with no chance. Just four minutes later, Dinamo doubled their lead from a corner. Following a scramble in the box, Beljo laid the ball off for Vidović, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

Hajduk responded with increased urgency. Rebić had a shot blocked by Mišić in the 19th minute, and Skoko attempted a solo run in the 27th minute, but Dominguez intervened with a timely tackle. From the resulting corner, Hajduk finally found the back of the net. Guillamon’s initial delivery was cleared, but Hrgović recovered the ball and crossed to Raci, whose shot was deflected onto the post, allowing Pukštas to tap in the rebound.

Hajduk came close to equalizing in the 37th minute, but Pukštas’s header struck the crossbar, and Raci’s follow-up effort narrowly missed the target.

Dinamo swiftly punished this missed opportunity. Stojković’s incisive through ball split the Hajduk defense, allowing Bakrar to run through on goal and calmly finish past Silić.

The second half saw Hajduk attempt to regain control, pushing forward and attempting to build attacks on Dinamo’s side of the field. Though, they failed to create any clear-cut chances. Dinamo, meanwhile, had opportunities to extend their lead, with Beljo and Vidović both testing the Hajduk defense, but their efforts were thwarted by a resilient defensive block.

The match was briefly halted in the 80th minute due to smoke from flares set off by Dinamo supporters in the southwest section of the stadium, causing a five-minute delay. Play resumed, but the scoreline remained unchanged.

With 57 points, Dinamo now holds a commanding 10-point lead over second-placed Hajduk, putting them firmly on course to secure their 26th Croatian league title in the 35th season of the HNL.

HNL Standings (March 8, 2026)

The result leaves Hajduk reeling after a difficult week, having similarly been eliminated from the HNS Cup by Rijeka on Thursday. Australian Croat Noa Skoko featured for Hajduk, while coach Gonzalo Garcia’s decision to start Marko Livaja on the bench drew scrutiny from supporters.

Dinamo’s next challenge will be against [Next Opponent – information not available in sources], while Hajduk will gaze to rebound in their upcoming fixture against [Next Opponent – information not available in sources].

Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on the HNL season and comprehensive coverage of Croatian football.