Date set for Croatian comeback

The new-look Croatian Premier League will start on 27 July with NK Zagreb out to defend the title.

Title defence
After becoming Prva HNL champions for the first time in the 2001/02 season, Zagreb start their campaign with a home game against NK Osijek, while on the same day, NK Varteks will host HNK Hajduk Split in a clash of two of the giants of Croatian football.

Massive tie
However, the tie that will really set the pulses racing is the first meeting between Hajduk and NK Dinamo Zagreb which will take place in the sixth round of games on 31 August. The two most famous sides in Croatia finished in second and third places in the 2001/02 Prva HNL.

Restructured league
There are no newcomers to the Croatian top flight due to the restructuring of the Croatian Premier League from 16 to 12 clubs. Four teams were automatically relegated last year while NK Papuk Kamen Ingrad Venika and HNK Šibenik both had to face play-off games against promotion hopefuls NK Istra and NK Vukovar 91 respectively to keep their place in the top flight. Both clubs triumphed with wins over two legs.

New regulations
Under the new league structure, the Croatian top flight will split in two after all of the 12 sides have played each other once home and away. After 22 rounds, the top six teams will compete for the title in a championship group, while the bottom six compete to avoid relegation.