NK Istra 1961 Pula
NK Istra 1961 Pula are on a five-game losing streak in the HNL 2025/2026, including three consecutive home defeats .
Slaven Belupo
- Slaven have the slight advantage of seventh place with 38 points from 32 games in the HNL 2025/2026 compared to Istra’s 36 and eighth place, but neither team have been in decent form of late.
- NK Slaven Belupo have failed to win any of their last five games, drawing two and losing three, whilst NK Istra 1961 Pula have lost their last five and are on a run of three straight home defeats.
- Slaven Belupo’s away record this season reads won two, drawn six and lost eight in the HNL 2025/2026.
- Slaven Belupo have conceded an average of 1.94 goals per-game away from home in the HNL 2025/2026.
Attack & Tactics
- Mario Gregurina is a pragmatic manager who has brought a lot of structure, discipline and most importantly, transitions at pace to Slaven’s game.
- They typically play a compact 4-2-3-1 system and their ability to play fast and direct means they can hurt teams on the break.
- Istra, on the other hand, are more of a ball-possession team and like to have territorial dominance.
- Josip Mitrovic is Slaven’s top scorer in the HNL 2025/2026, with eight goals in 30 games, but his attacking options have improved recently and with Ljuban Crepulja bagging two goals in his last five appearances, they may be able to cause problems for an Istra defence that have conceded 23 goals in 16 home fixtures.
- Smail Prevljak has led the line well for Istra this season, with 11 goals in 29 HNL 2025/2026 matches, but they have nobody else that really poses a threat.
Prediction
With the head-to-head record favouring Slaven, who won the reverse fixture 1-0 at home two months ago and are unbeaten in their last two against Istra, we feel they will capitalise on Istra’s current poor form and take the points on Monday.
