2022–23 First Football League (Croatia)

The 2022–23 First Football League (also known as Prva nogometna liga and 1. NL) was the 32nd season of the second-level football competition for men's association football teams in Croatia, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 13 August 2022 and concluded on 3 June 2023.

Prva nogometna liga
Season2022–23
Dates13 August 2022 – 3 June 2023
PromotedRudeš
RelegatedHrvatski Dragovoljac, Kustošija
Matches played198
Goals scored497 (2.51 per match)
Top goalscorerIvor Ljubanović (14)
Biggest home win6–0, BSK Bijelo Brdo v Solin
(1 Apr 2023)
Biggest away win0–4, multiple
Highest scoring7 goals, multiple
All statistics correct as of 22 May 2023.

The league was contested by 12 teams, four less than the previous season, and played in a triple round robin format.[1]

This was the first season that the second level of men's football in Croatia was named First football league (Prva nogometna liga).[2]

Teams

Changes

Varaždin was promoted to the 2022–23 HNL, while Croatia Zmijavci, Osijek II, Sesvete and Opatija were relegated to 2022–23 Druga NL. Dinamo Zagreb II was disbanded.

New clubs were Hrvatski Dragovoljac (relegated after single season in the top flight), relegated from 2021–22 Prva HNL and Vukovar 1991, winner of playoff between winners of five third tier leagues.

Before the start of the season, Inter Zaprešić ended up in bankruptcy and was dissolved. Instead of them, Croatia Zmijavci, originally relegated, was returned to the league.[3]

Stadia and locations

TeamCityStadium[4]Capacity[5]
BSK Bijelo BrdoBijelo Brdo Stadion BSK1,200
CibaliaVinkovciStadion Cibalia9,958
Croatia ZmijavciZmijavciStadion Marijan Šuto Mrma2,000
DubravaZagrebStadion Kustošija2,550
DugopoljeDugopoljeStadion Hrvatski vitezovi5,200
Hrvatski DragovoljacZagrebStadion NŠC Stjepan Spajić4,500
JarunZagrebStadion Lučko1,500
KustošijaZagrebStadion Kustošija2,550
OrijentRijekaStadion Krimeja3,500
RudešZagrebStadion SC Rudeš2,500
SolinSolinStadion Hrvatski vitezovi5,200
Vukovar 1991VukovarStadion u Borovu naselju3,550
RankCounties of CroatiaNumber of teamsClub(s)
1 City of Zagreb5Dubrava, Hrvatski Dragovoljac,
Jarun, Kustošija, Rudeš
2 Split-Dalmatia3Croatia Zmijavci, Dugopolje, Solin
3 Vukovar-Syrmia2Cibalia, Vukovar 1991
4 Osijek-Baranja1BSK Bijelo Brdo
Primorje-Gorski KotarOrijent

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Rudeš (C, P)3319775626+3064Promotion to the Croatian Football League
2Vukovar 199133171245725+3263
3Cibalia33131553726+1154
4BSK Bijelo Brdo33128134137+444
5Jarun33135154357−1444
6Orijent331013104545043
7Croatia Zmijavci33127143744−743
8Solin33127144755−843
9Dubrava33119133839−142
10Dugopolje33914103035−541
11Kustošija (R)3397173550−1534Relegation play-off
12Hrvatski Dragovoljac (R)33410193158−2722Relegation to the Second Football League
Updated to match(es) played on 5 June 2023. Source: Prva NL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored (at home if two teams tied); 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Criteria 2-4 and 7 is only used if deciding champion, teams for promotion or relegation and in that case criteria 6 will not be used).[6]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ AwayBSKCIBCRODUBDUGHRVJARKUSORIRUDSOLVUK
BSK Bijelo Brdo0–04–01–11–11–22–10–10–00–12–11–1
Cibalia4–00–01–01–12–11–02–21–01–00–02–2
Croatia Zmijavci2–00–22–00–23–12–11–12–22–10–11–2
Dubrava0–10–22–12–01–00–15–25–01–14–10–0
Dugopolje2–10–20–21–11–00–01–01–10–01–01–1
Hrvatski Dragovoljac1–00–01–11–11–10–02–31–20–3[A]3–30–1
Jarun3–20–02–13–22–01–53–02–21–32–12–4
Kustošija5–22–22–11–01–42–01–20–00–22–30–0
Orijent0–03–10–02–22–12–04–31–01–21–10–0
Rudeš2–14–03–11–11–03–03–01–01–02–02–2
Solin0–30–14–00–21–13–12–01–12–11–01–0
Vukovar 19911–11–00–11–00–01–14–13–04–02–04–0
Updated to match(es) played on 19 March 2023. Source: Prva NL (in Croatian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Home \ AwayBSKCIBCRODUBDUGHRVJARKUSORIRUDSOLVUK
BSK Bijelo Brdo3–11–21–06–02–1
Cibalia0–00–00–03–21–13–1
Croatia Zmijavci2–01–21–03–02–1
Dubrava1–22–01–01–10–30–4
Dugopolje1–21–02–02–20–40–1
Hrvatski Dragovoljac0–20–22–20–12–2
Jarun2–11–03–22–10–1
Kustošija1–11–20–13–02–1
Orijent0–12–02–24–02–0
Rudeš1–04–11–13–11–21–2
Solin4–03–02–20–13–32–5
Vukovar 19911–11–13–14–12–02–0
Updated to match(es) played on 5 June 2023. Source: Prva NL (in Croatian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Relegation play-offs

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Kustošija2–2Zrinski Jurjevac2–10–1

Notes

References