Dinamo Zagreb Dominates Hajduk Split, Extends HNL Lead to 10 Points

SPLIT, Croatia – Dinamo Zagreb delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, defeating rivals Hajduk Split 3-1 at Stadion Poljud in a crucial Round 25 clash of the Croatian Football League (HNL). The victory extends Dinamo’s lead at the top of the table to a significant 10 points, with 11 matches remaining in the season.

All four goals in this highly anticipated derby were scored in a captivating first half. Dinamo Zagreb established control early, with goals from Miha Zajc (7th minute) and Gabriel Vidović (11th minute) giving them a 2-0 advantage. Rokas Pukštas (29th minute) briefly ignited hope for Hajduk, but Mounsef Bakrar (38th minute) restored Dinamo’s two-goal cushion before halftime.

Hajduk, playing in front of a fervent home crowd of 31,030, appeared sluggish at the start, while Dinamo Zagreb displayed aggression and focus, a combination that quickly yielded results. The atmosphere at Poljud was electric, but the home side couldn’t translate the energy into sustained pressure.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a well-orchestrated move. Valinčić’s pass found Bakrar, who delivered a low cross to the edge of the penalty area where Zajc unleashed a precise shot into the bottom left corner, leaving Silić with no chance.

Hajduk struggled to respond, and just four minutes later, Dinamo doubled their lead. Following a corner, a scramble in the box saw Beljo create space for Vidović, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

The home side finally began to mount a challenge. Rebić had the first serious opportunity for Hajduk in the 19th minute, but his shot struck Mišić. In the 27th minute, Skoko attempted a solo run, but Dominguez intervened with a timely tackle. The resulting corner kick led to Pukštas’ goal, as Hrgović’s header was initially cleared, but the ball fell back to Raci, whose shot hit the post and was tapped in by Pukštas.

Hajduk came close to leveling the score in the 37th minute, with Pukštas heading against the crossbar, and Raci’s follow-up attempt narrowly missing the target.

Dinamo capitalized on this missed opportunity immediately. Stojković played a brilliant through ball, splitting the Hajduk defense, and Bakrar calmly finished past Silić.

The second half saw Hajduk attempt to regain control, pushing the game into Dinamo’s half, but they failed to create any clear-cut chances. Dinamo had a chance to extend their lead in the 60th minute from a set-piece, but Beljo and Vidović’s attempts were blocked by the Hajduk defense.

The match lost some momentum as both teams made substitutions, and a smoke flare display by Dinamo supporters in the 80th minute caused a five-minute stoppage due to the resulting smoke covering the pitch. Sporadic threats came from set-pieces, but the scoreline remained unchanged.

With this win, Dinamo Zagreb now boasts 57 points, 10 ahead of second-placed Hajduk Split. They are firmly on course to secure their 26th Croatian championship title in the 35th season of the HNL.

Match Details

Hajduk – Dinamo 1-3

Scorers: 0-1 Zajc (7), 0-2 Vidović (12), 1-2 Pukštas (29), 1-3 Bakrar (38)

Stadium: Poljud (Split)

Attendance: 31,030

Referee: Mateo Erceg (Pristeg)

Assistant Referees: Ivan Janić (Ilok), Kristijan Novosel (Valpovo)

Fourth Official: Patrik Pavlešić (Duga Resa)

VAR: Mario Zebec (Cestica)

AVAR: Goran Pataki (Đakovo)

Yellow Cards: Guillamon (Hajduk), Mišić, Bakrar (Dinamo)

Red Cards: None

Lineups

Hajduk (4-2-3-1): Silić – Hodak (46′ Šarlija), Raci, Marešić, Hrgović (72′ Melnjak) – Guillamon (72′ Livaja), Skoko (65′ Krovinović) – Brajković (72′ Bamba), Pukštas, Rebić – Šego. Manager: Gonzalo Garcia.

Dinamo (4-3-3): Livaković – Valinčić (70′ Galešić), Dominguez, McKenna, Goda (70′ Vinlof) – Zajc (77′ Soldo), Mišić, Stojković – Bakrar (77′ Topić), Beljo, Vidović. Manager: Mario Kovačević.

Dinamo Zagreb’s dominant display underscores their position as the clear frontrunners in the HNL. The team’s cohesive attacking play and clinical finishing proved too much for Hajduk Split to handle, leaving them with a significant mountain to climb in the title race. The next match for Dinamo will be against [Next Opponent – Not Confirmed], while Hajduk will seem to rebound against [Hajduk’s Next Opponent – Not Confirmed].

Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Croatian HNL and all the latest developments in European football.