Hrvački Dragovoljac beat Krka 4:0 in a club friendly on August first. The match took place in the warm afternoon and finished quickly enough that the visitors had time to recover before heading home. It was a clean sheet and a comfortable margin for the away side.
And here's the thing about friendlies — they don't always tell you everything. Krka had lost three of their last five before this one, including heavy defeats to Sestak Sisak and Kustisija. They'd shown bits of promise against Dubrava Zagreb, winning 2:1, but consistency has been the problem.
To be fair, the visitors weren't expected to dominate. Their recent record is mixed: a goalless draw with Dubrava Zagreb, a 2:0 win over Bjelovar, and heavy losses to Sestak Sisak and Dekani. But four unanswered goals against a side that had just conceded five in a match is a statement, however friendly.
By then you notice things the camera misses. The shape was different — Krka's midfield looked disconnected, while Dragovoljac moved between lines with purpose. Not that it matters much in a warm-up game, but you remember these things.
The scoreline reflects what happened. Krka's defensive frailty from the Kustisija match carried over, and Dragovoljac were clinical against a team that had been vulnerable at the back. Three clean sheets in five games for the visitors before this one suggests they're building something, even if it's just fitness and rhythm.
What it means is that neither team is testing themselves yet. The league starts soon enough, and this was a chance to see who's still figuring things out. Dragovoljac won, Krka lost, and the table doesn't change until September.