The draw for the new SuperSport HNL season was held at the Croatian Football Federation premises. The current champion Rijeka will open the championship against Slaven Belupo in Rujevica, while the runner-up Dinamo will visit Osijek at Opus Arena. Hajduk will host Istra at Poljud. The new member of the elite league, HNK Vukovar, will play its home matches in Vinkovci, and will play its first match at Maksimir against Lokomotiva. The first derby of the season will be in the third round, on August 16, when Rijeka hosts Dinamo. In the fifth round, on August 30, Hajduk hosts Rijeka, and in the seventh round, on September 20, the biggest Croatian derby between Split and Dinamo will be played at Poljud. Dates and times of the matches will be determined later. The draw included all SuperSport HNL clubs, including Osijek, Varaždin, Gorica, Slaven Belupo, Lokomotiva, and others.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets focus on the excitement and competitive spirit of the new SuperSport HNL season, highlighting the opportunities for smaller clubs like HNK Vukovar to compete in the top league. They emphasize the importance of sports as a unifying factor in Croatian society and the development of local talent.
Center: Center-leaning sources provide a straightforward report on the draw results, focusing on the schedule, key matches, and the logistics of the season. They maintain a neutral tone, presenting facts about the fixtures, dates, and teams involved without much editorializing.
Right: Right-leaning media emphasize the traditional rivalries and the significance of the derbies, especially the biggest Croatian derby between Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb. They may also highlight the historical importance of clubs and the passion of the fans, sometimes linking sports success to national pride.
