HNK Hajduk Split begins its Croatian Cup campaign with a match against Vardarac on Tuesday, September 8th. The match kicks off at 16:30 and will be broadcast on Max Sport 1.
Hajduk coach Gonzalo Garcia has indicated he will rotate his squad for this fixture. "It should again provide an opportunity for players who have had less playing time so far," Garcia said. Hajduk enters the competition from a strong league position. The team currently sits first in the HNL with 13 points from six games, recording four wins, one draw, and one loss. Their recent form is WWWWD, and they have scored 15 goals while conceding five.
All round of 16 matches of the Croatian Cup will be available to viewers on the television channel Max Sport 1. On Tuesday, September 8th, the broadcast begins with Hajduk's match against Vardarac at 16:30. Later the same day at 17:30, the match between Istra 1961 and Zagorec Krapina follows.
Dinamo Zagreb starts its cup journey on Wednesday, September 9th. They face Bedem from Ivankovo, with that match also kicking off at 16:30. The broadcast is likewise on Max Sport 1. Details of all upcoming fixtures can be found on our fixtures page.
For the Split team, this is the first step in the competition for a trophy that has been long awaited at Poljud. Following the match with Vardarac, the next league challenge awaits them on Saturday, September 12th. Then, NK Slaven Belupo, a team currently in eighth place in the table, will visit Poljud.
Garcia will likely use the cup to test the depth of his squad. It's a chance for players who have mostly been on the bench so far to prove their worth. Nevertheless, the goal is clear, to progress as far as possible in the competition. The current situation in the standings shows Hajduk has a solid foundation to fight on two fronts.
Preparations for the match are taking place with a balance between rest and intensity. Given that the opponent is from a lower tier, Garcia can afford to rest some regular starters. That doesn't mean the approach will be relaxed.
The team wants to maintain the positive rhythm they have established in the league. A goal difference of +10 after six rounds speaks to their offensive strength and defensive organization. A statistical overview of individual performances is available in our stats section.
Dinamo, as the reigning champion, also enters the cup with clear ambitions. Their path begins with an away match against Bedem. Although they are the favorite on paper, cups are often full of surprises.
Parallel to the cup, both major teams will have to manage the demands of the league. Hajduk's next league task against Slaven Belupo is already scheduled for September 12th. That is part of a demanding schedule that will test the depth of each squad. The lineups of both teams can be reviewed in more detail on the squad page.
The HNK Hajduk Split match against Vardarac begins on Tuesday at 16:30.
