Gorica
- 8th-placed Gorica have 35 points from 31 games.
- Gorica have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five games.
- Gorica have lost both of their previous two at home.
Istra
- Istra are seventh on 36 from the same number of matches.
- Istra have lost four consecutive matches.
- Istra have won only one of their last five.
Head-to-Head
NK Gorica have won two of the last three head-to-head meetings against NK Istra 1961 Pula , including a 2-0 win in Pula two months ago.
Key Players
- Ante Erceg is the danger man for Gorica with five goals in 15 HNL 2025/2026 appearances.
- Smail Prevljak leads the way for Istra with 11 goals in 28.
Betting Insights
- The home side are favorites at 1.93.
- Gorica’s recent away win and Istra’s losing streak support those odds.
Prediction
- Gorica likely to edge it.
- Istra have suffered defeats at Vukovar (1-2) and Dinamo Zagreb (0-2) at home in their last two, which means they’ll be desperate to get a win.
- Mario Carević has made a strong impression on Gorica since taking over in October 2024, bringing a sense of structure and identity to the side after a mixed run of results.
- Istra have traditionally been a possession-based side, with wide players cutting inside and creating overloads in the center, but after Oriol Riera’s sacking recently, new boss Krešimir Režić may have to take a more pragmatic approach.
- There is a clash in pressing styles that could leave both sides vulnerable on the counter, but the hosts have a more stable identity.
