Hajku, according to a study by CIES Football Observatory, an arm of the International Centre for Sports Studies, is in seventh place among clubs from 32 European leagues for the fewest shots allowed. The study was based on data from the analytics firm Impect, with opponents averaging just 6.50 shots on target.
That result places the Split side in the European top, ahead of many well-known names such as Barcelona and Benfica. Only Bayern Munich is ahead of Hajku, with the next six clubs. At the top of the table is Bayern Munich, whose opponents allow an average of just 4.90 shots per game. This is followed by Ukrainian side Harkiv with 5.84, Greek side Panathinaikos with 6.12, Latvian side RFS with 6.19, Moscow-based Dinamo with 6.27, and Portuguese side Vitória Guimarães with 6.34 shots allowed.
Immediately behind Hajku is Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy with 6.51 shots allowed, while further down the table are Benfica with 6.58 and Barcelona with 6.68, which rounds out the top ten. García’s side does not defend deep in a block in front of the goal, but rather controls the game through a high percentage of possession and pressure on the opponent’s half. One of the basic principles of their play is an aggressive reaction to losing the ball, which the team has successfully implemented in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Dinamo, particularly in the second half. The absence of Josip Mišić further highlighted Dinamo’s problems in organisation.
According to data from Sofascore, Hajku have conceded nine goals after nine games, which is the third-best record in the HNL. Only Rijeka and Varaždin have conceded fewer, with seven each, while Dinamo have conceded 11. At the time of writing, Din have one fewer game played, while Rijeka have two fewer games played. Hajku have finished four games without conceding, which places them joint first in the league with Osijek and Varaždin, and with an average of 16.4 tackles per game, they are in fourth place in the championship.
The split club is the only one in the league this season to have gone four games without conceding, while no other has gone more than two games without conceding. Also, Hajku have not lost in six games in a row, with Rijeka able to equalise today if they do not lose to Slaven in Koprivnica. Despite the impressive statistics, Hajku’s defensive problems have not completely disappeared, as shown by the recent defeat to Rijeka 0-3, and in some situations, Dion Drena Beljo was left completely unmarked by the opposition. Hajku play against Ajax on Thursday at Poljud.
