NK Varaždin approach the derby against league leaders Hajduk with confidence following an excellent start to the season. Coach Nikola Šafarić's team sits second in the HNL with 18 points from nine rounds, which is more than they had at the same stage last year.
The club from Anđelko Herjavec has suffered only one defeat and has the league's best defensive record. Their recent form reads WDDDW, with the latest victory coming against Lokomotiva five days ago. In that match, the only goal was scored by Luka Mamić following an assist from Petar Bočkaj. Mamić is currently the team's top scorer. This stability is the result of hard work and squad continuity, as Šafarić emphasises.
Coach Nikola Šafarić clearly stated the team's mindset. "If we are real, we are competitive, and if we are not at that level, then it does not matter who is on the other side. We must focus mostly on ourselves," said Šafarić. He praised Hajduk and Dinamo for their European victories but stressed that Varaždin will need to respond to the host's aggression and pressure while maintaining ball possession.
Player Petar Bočkaj confirmed the good atmosphere in the dressing room. "We played a very good first round." stated Bočkaj. He described Hajduk as a team that plays aggressive, fast, and quality football, and is in good rhythm after two difficult wins.
Šafarić specifically praised Bočkaj's commitment, saying he rarely sees such dedication in training even when the player is not starting. The growing internal competition within the squad pleases him. The coach also commented that Varaždin's good results might be under-discussed publicly, but the team remains focused on its work and rewards itself with good performances and points.
This is the tenth round of the SuperSport Croatian Football League. The match is scheduled for Sunday at the Poljud stadium in Split. Hajduk currently leads the table, just one point ahead of Varaždin. The last meeting between these two teams ended in a victory for Varaždin at home. The overall league situation can be followed on our standings page.
Success at Poljud will hinge on maintaining the stability and composure that characterised the first part of the season. Varaždin has shown it can pick up points away from home. The detailed schedule of upcoming matches, including this key derby, is available on the fixtures page. The team enters this match on a five-game unbeaten run, providing additional confidence. All preparations and the squad for this challenge can be found in the squad section. The final outcome will depend on execution on the pitch, and Varaždin is ready to prove it is a genuine contender for the top of the league.
Read the full report at varazdinske-vijesti.hr
