The Zadar Gazette
Player ratings3 Aug 2026
Duje Budimir could not have asked for more on his first appearance — 8.31
Debuts are survived rather than enjoyed. This one was enjoyed: 8.31, 1 goals, and a manager already being asked whether he starts again next week.
Player ratings3 Aug 2026
Filip Barisic scores twice — 8.78
Two goals and a mark of 8.78 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.
Squad3 Aug 2026
Tempers go at Zadar
Stipe Petkov was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Match1 Aug 2026
Filip Barisic among the goals in a wild afternoon
6 goals in one match, Filip Barisic on the scoresheet, and a scoreline that will look like a misprint. Neutrals could not have asked more of Zadar and Lucko.
Match1 Aug 2026
Zadar see off Lucko
Three points for Zadar, 4‑2 the final word against Lucko in a contest settled by the finer margins.
The terraces3 Aug 2026
The crowd has taken to Duje Budimir
At 18 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Squad3 Aug 2026
Josip Bjelica signs on for more
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Josip Bjelica and Zadar agree another 1 years.
Squad3 Aug 2026
No hiding place for Mislav Tadic
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Mislav Tadic, and the manager let it.
Squad3 Aug 2026
Tin Tadic asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
In brief
- Market No place for Petar Corluka in the plan
- Player ratings Stipe Majer runs at them all day
- Market Zadar pick up Robert Ćosić for nothing