One step away from a grandiose success, the biggest sensation in the Croatian Football League in recent times, is former Montenegrin national team player Radomir Đalović, who is leading Rijeka in his first independent coaching role.
The club from Kantrida, led by the legendary Dragutin Spasojević to win the Marshal Tito Cup in 1987 - the first major trophy in history, can celebrate another Montenegrin tomorrow.
If Hajduk wins at Poljud, Rijeka will become champion, one round before the end of the season.
And if he doesn't win, even if he loses, he will have another chance - in the last round, at home against Slaven Belupo.
One of the strangest and most unusual endings of a national championship in Europe is finally coming to an end, and it was sparked by Dinamo's big blunder - a draw with city rivals Lokomotiva Zagreb (1:1).
Rijeka and Dinamo are now level at the top, with Đalović's team having a game in hand and a better head-to-head record. And it's really close - it would be a shame if they didn't seize this opportunity.
At the beginning of the season, and even more so during the half-season, the Rijeka boss sold off almost the entire team from last season, selling the best defender, for example, to his direct rival Dinamo. Of those who remained, Đalović managed to pull off a miracle!
And against the incomparably more expensive Dinamo and Hajduk, who were eliminated from the race two rounds ago.
One win away from the title, two away from the double crown - because Rijeka also faces a rematch of the Cup final against Slaven, on home soil, after a 1:1 draw in Koprivnica in the first match.
A big football festival is being prepared in Kvarner, with a Montenegrin in the lead role.
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