- Hajduk Split are unbeaten in their last 5 games (4 wins, 1 draw, Osijek 2-0, Slaven 0-0).
- Hajduk Split are undefeated in their last 4 away games (3 wins, 1 draw).
Hajduk Split have been flying since mid-October
Our HNK Rijeka vs HNK Hajduk Split prediction is that Hajduk Split will be full of confidence and ready for a fierce game when they travel to Rijeka for Saturday’s Adriatic rivalry game. Gonzalo Garcia’s team have been in excellent form since July 2025 after he took charge.
Garcia has been a revelation on the Hajduk Split bench, bringing his own brand of patient, possession-based football to the club with a 4-3-3 system and front-foot approach. He has been a master of the vertical transitions, where the ball is played into space in front of the second line to release the forwards or the wide players to the byline.
Hajduk have been defensively solid since Garcia took over in July 2025, but the team are much more dangerous in the attack with the addition of a defensive pivot to his 4-3-3. Garcia also allows his wide players to rotate into the middle, so it is always a chess match in midfield when they are on the field, according to this HNK Rijeka vs HNK Hajduk Split prediction.
Rijeka have been solid at home under Victor Sanchez
Rijeka are a much more pragmatic and compact unit under Victor Sanchez, who was appointed in September 2025. Sanchez’s team play a pragmatic, compact mid-block and rely on rapid counter-attacks and wing overloads.
Toni Fruk has been their main outlet in attack, leading the team with 4 goals in 13 HNL 2025/2026 games. He has also been an effective link between the second and first lines, but Rijeka have been more successful playing the 4-2-3-1 formation and when Sanchez has gone to a 3-5-1-1 with Fruk playing on the right.
This HNK Rijeka vs HNK Hajduk Split preview notes that Hajduk Split have the better of the form coming into this game with 4 wins and 1 draw from their last 5, but in their last 3 head-to-head encounters each side has claimed a win and one match ended in a draw. Hajduk top the HNL 2025/2026 standings with 29 points from 13 games, while Rijeka are eighth on 14 points from 13.
Expect a tight game, but slight edge to Hajduk Split
Rijeka have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their 6 home matches this season, scoring 8 goals in total, so we would expect this to be a low-scoring affair. The HNK Rijeka vs HNK Hajduk Split prediction for this match is under 2.5 goals, as Hajduk Split have conceded only 0.50 goals per game away in HNL 2025/2026, and they had a goalless draw at Slaven, so the Under 2.5 goals market at 1.53 appeals.
Hajduk Split can get the win, but we feel the odds are too tight in their favour, with the bookmakers quoting them at 2.75. We will take the visitors at that price in the double chance market as they are undefeated in their last 4 on the road, while Rijeka will have a point to prove in this one under their new coach and with European soccer still to play. For punters looking for more value, our HNK Rijeka vs HNK Hajduk Split betting tips suggest considering the draw market given the strong home record of Rijeka.
Rijeka, therefore, are overpriced at 2.65 with a draw at 2.96. We think the hosts could get a point in this matchup with the last 3 head-to-head meetings producing a win apiece and a draw, the most recent of which was a 2-2 draw at Stadion Poljud in Split.
