The Prva Liga [1.HNL] contains 12
teams. Each team plays 2 games against each rival, once
away and once at home. After 22 rounds, the league
splits into championship and relegation pools. This
"split league format" separates the teams into two
groups of six, based on their points total. The top six
play a further 10 matches against the teams in their
group, once away and once at home, and the bottom six
also play each other twice more, taking their total to
32 games.
After completing a season, the first placed club has to
go through qualifying rounds to enter the UEFA Champions
League, while the second placed team and the Croatian
Cup winners have to go through qualifying rounds to
enter the UEFA Cup. The bottom two teams in the
Prva Liga will be relegated to the
Druga Liga
[2.HNL]
