This was Dinamo's first home match of the season in which they eventually clinched the championship title. The opponent was Partizan, who were still wearing red jerseys at the time. Dinamo played most of their matches on the path to the championship title that season as hosts at Kranjčevićeva. They continuously played there from September 1953 to March 1954, as Maksimir Stadium was undergoing additional finishing work on the extension of the western and northern stands.

In this derby at Kranjčevićeva, the Belgrade side was captained by Zagreb native Zlatko Čajkovski. He was actually the vice-captain, as the main captain Stjepan Bobek, also a Zagreb local, couldn't play due to injury and watched the match from the stands. Partizan's squad also featured two other Zagreb footballers: Bruno Belin in defence and Branko Zebec on the left wing, one of the biggest stars of football at the time and later a renowned Dinamo coach.

Interestingly, Dinamo couldn't count on their popular international defender Tomislav Crnković. The reason was that he had to attend a two-month military exercise. Although there were indications that he might be able to play in this match, despite initial permission being granted, they ultimately denied him at the last moment.

The stadium was full despite the harsh frost, with 20,000 spectators filling the stands at 'Kranjči'. Dinamo opened the match energetically, with Vladimir Čonč attempting shots from distance, but goalkeeper Slavko Stojanović would intervene or the ball would fly wide of the goal. Partizan came close to scoring in the 25th minute when Miloš Milutinović played a return pass, Zebec ran onto it, struck powerfully and hit the crossbar.

Dinamo took the lead in the 29th minute when Aleksandar Benko delivered a corner kick, and Dionizije Bato Dvornić first headed it, goalkeeper Stojanović saved... The ball came back to Dvornić who fired it with his foot into the bottom corner.

Just two minutes later, the blues extended their lead. Dragutin Cizarić curled in a free kick, and Čonč headed it from the edge of the six-yard box on the left side, lobbing it into the net.