2022–23 First Football League (Croatia)
| Season | 2022–23 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 13 August 2022 – 3 June 2023 |
| Promoted | Rudeš |
| Relegated | Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Kustošija |
| Matches played | 198 |
| Goals scored | 497 (2.51 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ivor Ljubanović (14) |
| Biggest home win | 6–0, BSK Bijelo Brdo v Solin (1 Apr 2023) |
| Biggest away win | 0–4, multiple |
| Highest scoring | 7 goals, multiple |
← 2021–22 2023–24 → All statistics correct as of 22 May 2023. | |
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.
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
| Team | City | Stadium[4] | Capacity[5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSK Bijelo Brdo | Bijelo Brdo | Stadion BSK | 1,200 |
| Cibalia | Vinkovci | Stadion Cibalia | 9,958 |
| Croatia Zmijavci | Zmijavci | Stadion Marijan Šuto Mrma | 2,000 |
| Dubrava | Zagreb | Stadion Kustošija | 2,550 |
| Dugopolje | Dugopolje | Stadion Hrvatski vitezovi | 5,200 |
| Hrvatski Dragovoljac | Zagreb | Stadion NŠC Stjepan Spajić | 4,500 |
| Jarun | Zagreb | Stadion Lučko | 1,500 |
| Kustošija | Zagreb | Stadion Kustošija | 2,550 |
| Orijent | Rijeka | Stadion Krimeja | 3,500 |
| Rudeš | Zagreb | Stadion SC Rudeš | 2,500 |
| Solin | Solin | Stadion Hrvatski vitezovi | 5,200 |
| Vukovar 1991 | Vukovar | Stadion u Borovu naselju | 3,550 |
| Rank | Counties of Croatia | Number of teams | Club(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  City of Zagreb
|
5 | Dubrava, Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Jarun, Kustošija, Rudeš |
| 2 |  Split-Dalmatia
|
3 | Croatia Zmijavci, Dugopolje, Solin |
| 3 |  Vukovar-Syrmia
|
2 | Cibalia, Vukovar 1991 |
| 4 |  Osijek-Baranja
|
1 | BSK Bijelo Brdo |
 Primorje-Gorski Kotar
|
Orijent |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rudeš (C, P) | 33 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 56 | 26 | +30 | 64 | Promotion to the Croatian Football League |
| 2 | Vukovar 1991 | 33 | 17 | 12 | 4 | 57 | 25 | +32 | 63 | |
| 3 | Cibalia | 33 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 37 | 26 | +11 | 54 | |
| 4 | BSK Bijelo Brdo | 33 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 41 | 37 | +4 | 44 | |
| 5 | Jarun | 33 | 13 | 5 | 15 | 43 | 57 | −14 | 44 | |
| 6 | Orijent | 33 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 43 | |
| 7 | Croatia Zmijavci | 33 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 37 | 44 | −7 | 43 | |
| 8 | Solin | 33 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 47 | 55 | −8 | 43 | |
| 9 | Dubrava | 33 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 42 | |
| 10 | Dugopolje | 33 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 30 | 35 | −5 | 41 | |
| 11 | Kustošija (R) | 33 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 34 | Relegation play-off |
| 12 | Hrvatski Dragovoljac (R) | 33 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 31 | 58 | −27 | 22 | Relegation to the Second Football League |
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
Relegation play-offs
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kustošija | 2–2 | Zrinski Jurjevac | 2–1 | 0–1 |
Notes
References
- ^ "Velika nogometna reforma: Pogledajte što nas čeka u sljedeće dvije sezone". dalmatinskinogomet.hr (in Croatian). 16 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "SEZONA 2022/23 Prva HNL dobiva naziv Elitna liga, druga liga postaje Prva liga, jedinstvena treća liga postaje Druga liga". sportcom.hr. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Odluka o popunjavanju drugog i trećeg stupnja natjecanja" [Decision on filling the second and third stages of the competition]. HNS (in Croatian). 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Završen središnji postupak licenciranja za sezonu 2022./23" [The central licensing procedure for the 2022/23 season has been completed.]. Hrvatski nogometni savez (in Croatian). 30 May 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Venues - First NL". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Propozicije natjecanja za prvenstvo Druge hrvatske nogometne lige za natjecateljsku 2021/2022 godinu" (PDF). druga-hnl.com (in Croatian). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Rudeš izgubio, ali za zelenim stolom upisali pobjedu! Dragovoljci grme: Nema viteštva u nogometu". gol.dnevnik.hr. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.