Four goals in the morning schedule, an additional seven in the afternoon fixtures... The first day of the 23rd edition of the international memorial junior tournament Mladen Ramljak offered entertaining, appealing football featuring attractive moves and brilliant goals. Spectators at the four matches played on Thursday at the opening of this year's tournament witnessed 11 goals, averaging almost three per match.

Both morning matches ended with identical 2-0 results. First, Ajax overcame Athletic Bilbao, followed by Hajduk's victory over Bologna.

The "Lancers" scored their goals two minutes after the opening and two minutes before the end of the match: Nafairon Landvreugd scored in the 2nd minute, while Imran Talai found the net in the 78th minute. Hajduk broke through Bologna's defense after the Italian team was reduced to ten men. In the 44th minute, Zakhar Onyshchuk was sent off. The goals were scored by Mateo Juričić in the 49th minute and Lovro Maglica with a brilliant move in the 77th minute when he launched the ball into the top corner.

In Group B matches, Benfica and Brugge were first to take the field. The Belgians took the lead in the 11th minute when Jeoffrey Mbambi shook the net. Igor Said equalized in the final 80th minute. The highlight of the day was the match between Dinamo and Juventus, in which the Italian team led 3-0 after goals from Giacomo Urbano in the 11th minute, Demba Sall Samb in the 19th, and Urbano again in the 27th minute. What followed was a fierce Dinamo hunt for a comeback. The Maksimir footballers struck twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half, hit the crossbar once with an effective lob from the center of the pitch, and on several occasions Juventus was saved by brilliant reactions from goalkeeper Emanuelle Giaretta. Goals were scored by Roko Ban in the 36th minute and Karlo Zirdum in the 38th minute, while in the very next attack Jona Benkotić hit the crossbar with a lob from the center. In the second half, Juventus, with as many as four substitutions at halftime, tightened their defense and maintained their lead.

Group A, Round 1:

Ajax – Athletic Bilbao 2-0 (1-0 Landvreugd 2', 2-0 Talai 78'), Hajduk – Bologna 2-0 (1-0 Juričić 49', 2-0 Maglica 77'; red card: Onyshchuk, Bologna, 44');

Standings: 1. Ajax and Hajduk 3 points each, 3. Athletic Bilbao and Bologna 0 points;

Round 2 schedule, Friday: Athletic Bilbao – Bologna (9:00), Hajduk – Ajax (10:45);

Group B, Round 1:

Benfica – Brugge 1-1 (0-1 Mbambi 11', 1-1 Said 80'), Dinamo – Juventus 2-3 (0-1 Urbano 11', 0-2 Samb 19', 0-3 Urbano 27', 1-3 Ban 36', 2-3 Zirdum 38');

Standings: 1. Juventus 3 points, 2. Benfica and Brugge 1 point each, 4. Dinamo 0 points;

Round 2 schedule, Friday: Benfica – Juventus (17:30), Dinamo – Brugge (19:15)