HNK Rijeka is sensational to the new Master of the HNL!

HNK Rijeka is sensational to the new Master of the HNL!

Rijeka, Kroatien - The HNK Rijeka won the Croatian championship in the Supersport Hrvatska Nogometna League today on May 25, 2025. This is the second championship title in club history after Rijeka was able to win the title in the 2016/17 season. The last matchday of the season ended dramatically because Rijeka and the GNK Dinamo Zagreb were at the top of the table, both with 65 points and an identical goal difference of +28.

The crucial encounters took place on an exciting last day. Rijeka prevailed 2-0 against Slaven Belupo, whereby Niko Janković and Toni Fruk scored the goals. Dinamo Zagreb, on the other hand, won his game against Varaždin 1-0, which made the situation exciting at the top of the table. The decisive advantage for Rijeka was the better direct comparison, which ultimately chose her as a master. This title ends the overwhelming dominance of Dinamo Zagreb, which had won 18 of the last 19 championships.

drama on the last match day

On the last matchday, three clubs had the chance of the championship title: Rijeka, Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split. Hajduk Split secured third place in the table with a 1-0 win against the already relegated club Šibenik. Despite the victory, it was not enough for Rijeka to win the title until the results of the other games were decided.

The end of the season also meant that Rijeka qualified for the Champions League qualification. Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split will compete with the UEFA Conference League, while Rijeka has the opportunity to crown the season with winning the Croatian trophy. In the cup final, Rijeka meets Slaven Belupo again after the first leg ended 1-1.

The HNL at a glance

The Supersport Hrvatska Nogometna League, which was founded in 1992, is the highest division in Croatian football. The current master is traditionally the most successful club, Dinamo Zagreb, with 25 titles. After this season, Rijeka is now one of the few clubs that were able to win the championship title in the HNL. This season, the league ended with ten participating teams this season, and the championship became more exciting than ever because it was only decided on the last match day.

The table of the season shows the performance of the individual clubs:

Overall, the 2024/25 season in the HNL was one of the most exciting and most competitive, with a championship title that was only decided on the last match day. The possibilities for international qualifications have also increased the level of the competition, such as Laola1.at. Rijeka will take the opportunity to prove itself in the upcoming competitions. According to croateaweek.com this was a remarkable moment in the club history of Rijeka, and the fans can look forward to exciting times. The HNL can proudly look back on the development and the exciting league that it has experienced in recent years, as [Wikipedia] (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/hnl_ (hrvatska_nogometna_liga)) informed.