Hajduk Split
- HNK Hajduk Split are in good shape with 4 wins and 1 loss in their last 5 games.
- The Bili are 2nd in the HNL table with 16 points from 8 matches, just behind the Modri on 16 from 7, but the gap between them could widen or close significantly depending on who wins this one.
- Gonzalo Garcia took over Hajduk on 1 July 2025 and has implemented a brave, possession-first 4-2-3-1 which involves lots of pressing and wide overloads.
- But they also have suffered a 3-0 loss away to HNK Rijeka, a rare flat spot, and may need to pull something special out to beat Dinamo.
- Hajduk have been a fortress at home in HNL 2026/2027, winning 3 and drawing 1 of their 4 games, and scoring 9 goals without a defeat.
- They have yet to lose on their travels, although this will be a very different challenge.
Dinamo Zagreb
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb are in OK shape with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in their last 5.
- Mario Kovacevic has done a decent job in the year since he took the helm at Dinamo on 4 June 2025.
- He has kept the Modri structured, ball-dominant and tough to break down with their high defensive line.
- They were held 0-0 by Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the UEFA Europa League, then just edged out NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 3-2 at home in HNL 2026/2027.
- Dinamo have been shaky on the road so far, winning 0, drawing 1 and losing 1 of their 2 away games, but they have averaged 2.00 goals per away game in 2026-2027.
Head-to-Head
- The two biggest and best-known clubs in Croatian football go head-to-head in the Eternal Derby on Saturday when Hajduk Split host Dinamo Zagreb in a matchup which will likely decide where the 2026-2027 title ends up.
- Dinamo have won 4 of the last 5 meetings, drawing the other.
- Hajduk have not beaten Dinamo in their last 3 meetings at Stadion Poljud.
Key Players
- Michele Sego has been in good form for Hajduk, scoring 4 goals in 8 HNL 2026/2027 games and 4 of their last 9 overall, so he is the man to watch for a goal in the first half.
- Dion Drena Beljo has been Dinamo's sharp shooter with 9 goals in 6 HNL 2026/2027 matches and 3 in their last 5, so he may be the man who gets them the winning goal.
Betting Insights
- Dinamo are the slight favorites with the bookies, with a price of 2.24, ahead of Hajduk at 2.83 and the draw at 4.01.
- The home team is a tough team to predict because Garcia's system is more fluid and can create chaos, but it can also leave gaps when the double pivot is pulled apart.
- A tempting angle on this is Both Teams to Score at 1.52, which could well occur in a derby that opens up late on.
Prediction
- Dinamo have the edge in this matchup and, although it will be close, we see them as more likely to edge it, as the bookmakers also have them as slight favorites.
- Kovacevic's men have a structured and controlled style with situational pressing and will know how to control the tempo of this game, but Hajduk's bursts of pressing can cause Dinamo to make mistakes.
- Expect a tight, tense derby with chances at both ends and Both Teams to Score a plausible outcome.