Dinamo Zagreb (home)
- Dinamo Zagreb are the big favourites to beat Istra 1961 Pula in Saturday’s HNL 2025-2026 clash, but the visitors have the form and quality to keep the game close and even pull an upset if they get the right day.
- Mario Kovacevic’s men are at the top of the standings with 45 points from 21 games and are dominant HNL 2025-2026 leaders for a reason.
- Kovacevic has imbued Dinamo with a flexible, possession-based system in which coordinated pressing, high-tempo football and constant rotations create space and numerical advantages in wide areas.
- Kovacevic took over in June 2025 and his influence has been clear in Dinamo’s recent improvement and consistency, winning three, drawing one and losing just one of their last five in all competitions.
- Dion Drena Beljo has been in fine form for Dinamo recently, scoring 11 goals in 21 league appearances and netting three times in their last five.
Istra 1961 Pula (away)
- Istra 1961 Pula are 4th in HNL 2025/2026 with 30 points from 21 matches and have been knocking on the door of the European places since new boss Oriol Riera took over in September 2025.
- The Catalan tactician has transformed the team into a compact, disciplined unit that thrives on quick counter-attacks.
- Istra are capable of rapid transitions and can punish sides that overcommit, but their recent form has been patchy with two wins, one draw and two defeats from their last five.
- Istra average 1.55 goals scored and 1.45 goals conceded per away game in HNL 2025/2026, which suggests they will be a threat and will get hit on the break.
Head-to-Head
they have won two of the last three meetings between the sides and may be able to at least nick a goal with both teams to score priced at 1.9 .
Key Players
- Dion Drena Beljo
- 11 goals in 21 league appearances and three goals in his last five.
- Smail Prevljak
- ten in 18 this season and five of his side’s last nine.
Betting Insights
- Dinamo Zagreb are the clear favourites for Saturday’s clash at 1.33, while Istra are 8.0 underdogs.
- Dinamo have won 8, drawn 1 and lost just 1 of their 10 home HNL 2025/2026 matches.
- Both teams to score is available at 1.9.
Prediction
- Dinamo Zagreb are the big favourites to beat Istra 1961 Pula in Saturday’s HNL 2025-2026 clash, but the visitors have the form and quality to keep the game close and even pull an upset if they get the right day.
- Dinamo have only conceded 8 goals in 10 home league games this term, so it is hard to see how the underdogs can get anything from this.
