2018–19 Croatian First Football League


The 2018–19 Croatian First Football League was the 28th season of the Croatian First Football League, the national championship for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 27 July 2018 and finished on 26 May 2019.
The league is contested by 10 teams.

Teams

On 23 April 2018, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2018–19 season was complete. For the 2018–19 Prva HNL, only eight clubs were issued a top level license: Dinamo Zagreb, Gorica, Hajduk Split, Inter Zaprešić, Lokomotiva, Osijek, Rijeka and Slaven Belupo. All of these clubs except Gorica were also issued a license for participating in UEFA competitions. In the second stage of licensing, clubs that were not licensed in the first stage can appeal on the decision.

Stadia and locations

RankCounties of CroatiaNumber of teamsClub
1 City of Zagreb3Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiva, and Rudeš
2 Zagreb County2Gorica, Inter Zaprešić
3 Istria1Istra 1961
3 Koprivnica-Križevci1Slaven Belupo
3 Osijek-Baranja1Osijek
3 Primorje-Gorski Kotar1Rijeka
3 Split-Dalmatia1Hajduk Split

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Each team plays home-and-away against every other team in the league twice, for a total of 36 matches each played.

First round

Second round

Relegation play-offs

At the end of the season, ninth placed team Istra 1961 will contest a two-legged relegation play-off tie against Šibenik, runners-up of the 2018–19 Croatian Second Football League.

First leg

Second leg

Istra 1961 won 3–1 on aggregate.

Statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Mijo CaktašHajduk Split19
2 Mirko MarićOsijek18
3 Jakov PuljićRijeka16
4 Komnen AndrićInter Zaprešić, Dinamo Zagreb 14
4 Łukasz ZwolińskiGorica14
6 JairoHajduk Split13
6 Ivan KrstanovićLokomotiva, Slaven Belupo 13
8 Antonio ČolakRijeka12
9 Kristijan LovrićGorica10
10 Mario GavranovićDinamo Zagreb9
10 HéberRijeka9
10 Ramón MierezIstra 19619
10 Bruno PetkovićDinamo Zagreb9