In the latest round of the SuperSport HNL, Hajduk Split secured a narrow 1-0 victory over their rivals Rijeka, thanks to Marko Livaja's decisive goal scored in the 79th minute. The match was notably intense, particularly after Rijeka was reduced to ten men following the expulsion of Dejan Petrovič in the 44th minute. Hajduk's win brings them closer to league leaders Dinamo Zagreb, reducing the gap to five points, while Rijeka remains in third place in the standings.

The game was marked by a strong performance from Rijeka in the first half, where they dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities, but struggled to convert those chances into goals. Notably, there was a controversial moment when Hajduk was denied a penalty after Livaja was involved in a potential foul with Rijeka's goalkeeper. As the match progressed, tensions escalated, particularly during the late stages as both teams faced a player each being sent off, with Hajduk's Niko Sigur receiving a red card in the moment just before Livaja's goal.

With this victory, Hajduk not only boosts their chances of catching up in the title race but also reinforces their strong rivalry with Rijeka, known as the Adriatic derby. The implications extend beyond just the league standings, stirring up fan emotions and maintaining the momentum as they push ahead in the remaining matches of the season. Hajduk will look to continue this momentum in the upcoming rounds as they strive for the championship title in the Croatian league.