HNK Hajduk Split secured an important victory against NK Rudeš at Stadion Gorica this week. The Split-based club won to maintain their position at the summit of the Croatian First Football League.
Hajduk controlled the match from the opening whistle. The first half ended goalless, but the home side showed clear dominance. Manager Slaven Belupo, who took over the team recently after coaching Lokomotiva, secured his second consecutive win.
The decisive moments came early in the second half. Hajduk's defence remained solid until the final whistle, preserving three important points.
Rudeš suffered their fourth consecutive league defeat.
This win keeps Hajduk at the top of the table. However, according to our verified data as of 07 September 2026, the race is extremely tight. Hajduk currently sits in fourth place with 10 points from five matches. Their record is three wins, one draw, and one loss, with recent form reading WWWDL.
The team has scored 11 goals and conceded five, giving them a goal difference of +6. League leaders Dinamo Zagreb hold a three-point advantage. A full overview of the table is available on our standings page.
The next challenge for Belupo's men is a home fixture against NK Slaven Belupo on 12 September 2026. The opponent currently occupies ninth place in the league. It will be an opportunity for Hajduk to build momentum and strengthen their position near the top.
Before that match, the squad will have several days to prepare. The complete schedule of matches can be checked on the fixtures page. Manager Belupo will have a full squad at his disposal, and updated player information is available on the squad page.
The victory over Rudeš demonstrated that Hajduk possesses the quality to challenge for the title. However, the season is long and consistency will be key. The next match at Poljud against Slaven Belupo is scheduled for Friday, 12 September.
