Hajduk Split
- Hajduk Split host NK Istra 1961 in a SuperSport HNL game that could have a big bearing on the European spots and the title race this Sunday.
- Split have won two, drawn two and lost none of their four games since a 5-0 drubbing at Rijeka.
- Gonzalo Manuel García’s side are much more disciplined and defensively solid now and they should be able to justify their odds-on favorite tag in this contest.
Istra 1961
- Istra 1961, third, are 26 points from 17 games and have a European berth in their sights.
- Oriol Riera’s men went to Osijek and won 5-1 and travelled to Varaždin and came away with a 3-1 victory.
- They also beat Dinamo Zagreb on home soil this season so have the belief to back themselves against bigger clubs.
- Istra’s approach has been more pragmatic - they are reactive and compact, preferring to absorb pressure and hit teams on the break in games they are not expected to win.
Head-to-Head
Hajduk have two wins in the last five meetings with Istra and a similar result is expected in Split on Sunday, but Istra’s away form and style of play suggest they can keep it close.
Key Players
- They look to control the tempo and use their pressing and positional overloads to dominate the central areas, but Istra will be able to test their high-line approach with good counter-attacks.
- Stjepan Lončar and Josip Radošević are the main players controlling the midfield tempo while Salim Fago Lawal offers directness and pace out wide.
- Lawal scored against Rijeka recently and will trouble the Hajduk defence, while Smail Prevljak is the focal point and main threat up front with seven league goals.
- Rokas Pukštas has been a key player for Hajduk this term with goals and assists, but his energy and physicality in both boxes can be a big factor.
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Key players to watch:
- Stjepan Lončar
- Josip Radošević
- Salim Fago Lawal
- Smail Prevljak
- Rokas Pukštas
Betting Insights
- Hajduk Split, _1.53_, are clear favorites to beat Istra 1961, _5.99_, in the early HNL 2025-2026 game on Sunday.
- The draw is priced at _3.95_.
- We think the ‘Both Team To Score’ market at _1.97_ is a great option here because Istra have shown they can score on the road.
Prediction
A 2-1 home win has the best chance of success in the exact score market and there is a slim chance of an upset in Split if Istra are as good as they were against Dinamo.
