HNK Hajduk Split suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Varaždin in the opening round of the SuperSport HNL, leaving them 7th in the table with 0 points (0W-0D-1L) and a goal difference of -1. The match was decided in stoppage time when Varaždin goalkeeper Josip Silić saved Marko Livaja's penalty, sealing the win for the home side.
What happened in the match?
Varaždin took the lead through Marija Mladenovski and Luka Mamić before Rokas Pukštas pulled one back for Hajduk. Despite dominating possession, Hajduk struggled to break down Varaždin's resolute defense, with Šafarić praising his team's tactical discipline.
Why was this a tough game for Hajduk?
Šafarić admitted Hajduk's quality but highlighted his team's mental strength after their Conference League exit. 'They have great quality, but we limited them to almost nothing,' he said. 'The heat and fatigue played a role, but we stayed composed.'
What comes next for Hajduk?
Hajduk will look to bounce back in their next fixture against NK Lokomotiva Zagreb on 2027-02-20, currently 3 points behind league leaders Dinamo Zagreb. Šafarić's side will aim to build on this hard-fought win as they target a top-four finish.
