Early in the 2026–27 Croatian HNL, which began on 31 July with 10 teams, Gorica sits bottom after seven matches with just two points and a -8 goal difference, while newly promoted Rudeš holds nine points but trails with the league’s worst defense (22 goals conceded). Slaven Belupo also sits in the lower reaches on six points. These positions reflect poor recent form and limited squad depth compared with mid-table sides like Lokomotiva. The bottom club faces automatic relegation to the Prva NL at season’s end in May 2027, with results over the coming months—particularly among the bottom four—likely shaping trader views on which sides face the greatest risk of dropping.