Dinamo ready for Croatian kick-off

NK Dinamo Zagreb kick off their title defence on Saturday as hot favourites to finish top of the pile again in Croatia, having added to their already formidable squad.

Nowotny coup
The champions dropped just ten points in all of last season and have strengthened ahead of the new campaign. The team that lines up against NK Slaven Koprivnica this Saturday is expected to include German international defender Jens Nowotny and the experienced Croatian pair of Jasmin Agić and Mario Cvitanović.

Increased schedule
However, Dinamo and the rest will have to cope with a new schedule that sees the 12 teams play each other three times for a total of 33 matches rather than the previous 22. At the two-thirds point of the season the final round of fixtures will be decided, with the top six being rewarded with an extra home game. One thing that has not changed is the winter break, which will see the league commence its lengthy Christmas holiday on 2 December, before returning early in March for the final 15 games.

Rijeka reinforcements
Possible title contenders include HNK Hajduk Split, who must bounce back from a difficult 2005/06 season but have added quality to their squad in the shape of Luka Vučko ahead of their opener against NK Medimurje. Cup-winners HNK Rijeka have acquired Nino Bule and Mihael Mikić, but it would be a major surprise if anybody knocks Dinamo off their perch.