It could have been a big day on the field of their fierce Adriatic rival, but despite the defeat to Hajduk at "Poljud" (2:1), Rijeka and Radomir Đalović have everything in their hands before the final 90 minutes of the Croatian championship.
The team from Rujevica and the Montenegrin coach expect two matches against the same rival by the end of the season, and if they win both against Slaven Belupo, they will win a double crown - first on Saturday in the championship, and then five days later in the second match of the Cup final (the first ended 1:1).
Rijeka will play both matches at their stadium and it is clear how close Đalović is to unreal success in his first independent season at the helm of a club against the much more powerful giants of Croatian football - Dinamo and Hajduk.
Rijeka did not play the "Adriatic Derby" well, mostly defending, and Hajduk quickly reached 1:0 - Marko Livaja, the legend of "Poljud", scored a masterful "Panjenko" from the penalty spot.
Regardless of the weaker game, Đalović's team showed character once again and after a great action they reached 1:1 - in the 73rd minute Duje Čop scored after Dejan Petrović passed the ball to him.
The leaders' celebration lasted only five minutes, as Aleksandar Trajkovski scored the final 2:1 after an assist from Ivan Rakitic.
Since 2006, only two teams have been Croatian champions - Dinamo 18 times and Rijeka once (2017). Perhaps that best speaks to the feat the former "Falcon" striker is facing.
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