Rijeka vs Hajduk Split Prediction: Now Rijeka are huge favorite in this derby

Rijeka and Hajduk meet in Rujevica as part of the Adriatic derby, which will mark the 29th round of Supersport HNL. For the first time in the last 7 years, the hosts have a chance to win the title of Croatian champion, and on their way to that goal is the third-ranked Hajduk, who could further heat up the already tense fight for the championship title. 

Form: WWWWW

Although Dinamo and Hajduk have been just a step away in the race to reach Rijeka at the top of the table for some time, the team under the leadership of Zeljko Sopic remains stable and enjoys the results of their hard work. Despite frequent media criticism, Sopic manages Rijeka excellently, guiding them to win the league championship for the first time since 2017, which ended Dinamo's long-term dominance that lasted from 2006 to last season. In case of victory against Hajduk, Rijeka would practically eliminate the team from Split from the race for the championship, leaving the decision on the champion until the last moments of the season in a direct battle with Dinamo Zagreb, which focused their efforts on winning domestic competitions. However, challenges await Rijeka in this match, especially after Marko Pjaca suffered a minor knee injury during the cup match against Lokomotiva, which could keep him out of the game for the upcoming match. Although his absence will likely affect Rijeka's game, Sopic's tactical staff suggests that they will find a successful strategy even without Pjaca. With a total of 62 points from 28 games, Rijeka maintains a five-point advantage over Dinamo, which are in second place, with one game less. They stand out as the most efficient team in Supersport HNL with 56 goals scored. 

Form: LLDLW

Hajduk's hopes of winning the first Croatian championship since 2005 are fading, considering the decline in the game in recent weeks, which has further distanced them from the leaders Rijeka with a deficit of seven points. With 55 points this season, Hajduk occupies third place in the table, only two points behind Dinamo, which are in second place, and seven points behind Rijeka at the top. The upcoming match at the packed Rujevica could be the key to a turnaround in the fight for the league title if Hajduk manages to win. In addition, Hajduk are under pressure due to possible disciplinary action by HNS after the incident with their fans in Poljud, where the fans caused riots after the defeat to Dinamo in the cup match. There is a significant possibility that the club will be punished by playing several matches without the presence of the crowd. However, considering the announcement of the arrival of Torcida in Rujevica, the support from the stands could be crucial for winning valuable points against Rijeka. 

The last 5 meetings between these two teams were played in the Supersport HNL, where Rijeka dominates with 4 wins and 1 loss. The last 2 meetings between them ended with the victory of Rijeka, and the last victory was registered at the end of January of this year, when Rijeka celebrated in Poljud with 1-2. With Hajduk's form in a slight decline in the last few games, where they are in a series of 3 consecutive defeats, 2 of which are against Dinamo (league and cup), visiting Rijeka do not come at the right time. On the other hand, we have Rijeka, which are slowly but surely moving towards their first league title since 2017, and we believe that they will do enough on Sunday to maintain their advantage at the very top of the table.