With a 22-2 win in the derby of the 0nd round of the Croatian Football League (HNL) against Osijek away from home, Radomir Đalović's Rijeka returned to first place, where it spent the winter break.
The Montenegrin coach's team is once again one point ahead of Hajduk (yesterday drew 1:1 with Istra), and four ahead of Dinamo (beat Gorica 3:1).
Duje Čop shone, scoring in the 15th minute and assisting Niko Janković, who scored with a header in the 34th minute for the final 0:2.
Đalović is not giving up, even though his boss, Damir Mišković, sold practically all the best he had during the half-season.
Defense commander Niko Galešić was sold to direct rival Dinamo for three million euros, right-back and captain Ivan Smolčić went to Como for two million, and winger Marko Pašalić to Orlando for as much as five million... And this after a total sellout last summer, when another player, national team player Marko Pjaca, also went to Dinamo...
"Mišković has already surrendered the title," was one of the headlines in the Croatian media last Saturday.
And Đalović, even in such circumstances, does not give up, even though he is fighting with rivals who are only buying, led by former world champions and legends of European football, Italians Fabio Cannavaro (Dinamo) and Gennaro Gattuso (Hajduk).
It will be very difficult until the end, as Rijeka will host Dinamo in the next round, and then just three days later they will play Hajduk in the Cup quarter-finals. So, they are "alive" in both competitions.
Unburdened is practically the only real advantage compared to strong rivals, who are under great pressure to win every match and are not managing, especially Hajduk led by Ivan Rakitic.
How long will the great fighter, Radomir Đalović, endure this unequal fight?
Bonus video:
