NK Varazdin

vs

NK Istra 1961 Pula

Preview

NK Varazdin

• 5th-placed NK Varazdin sit level on points with 4th-placed NK Istra 1961 Pula in the HNL 2025-2026 standings, with Varazdin having played 17 games and Istra one fewer.
• 2025-2026 has seen them win four, draw three and lose just one at home, averaging 1.62 goals per game scored and 1.12 conceded.
• They play a 4-2-3-1 that is based around high-tempo pressing and energetic transitions to create chances.
• Led by Aleksa Latkovic, who has four goals in 17 HNL 2025/2026 appearances, they are always a threat in the front third.

NK Istra 1961 Pula

• Oriol Riera has performed a mini-revolution at Istra since his appointment in September 2025, moving them onto a much more organised and possession-based footing than they had in the previous campaign.
• Smail Prevljak is their main man up front with five goals in 13 league games, but Lawal Fago has found his scoring boots recently with four goals in Istra’s last nine.
• They have won only two of their eight away games in HNL 2025/2026, drawing two and losing four, averaging 1.25 goals a game for and 1.38 against.

Head-to-Head

• NK Istra 1961 Pula beat NK Varazdin 1-0 at home in the last head-to-head contest two months ago.
• The two sides have one win apiece and three draws across the previous five meetings.

Key Players

• Led by Aleksa Latkovic, who has four goals in 17 HNL 2025/2026 appearances, they are always a threat in the front third.
• Smail Prevljak is their main man up front with five goals in 13 league games, but Lawal Fago has found his scoring boots recently with four goals in Istra’s last nine.

Betting Insights

• The bookies have Varazdin as favourites at 2.5, but Istra are not far behind at 2.94 and the draw is at 3.0, which is probably reflective of how close a matchup this is likely to be.
• This will be a chess match in the midfield with the tempo and pressing of Varazdin likely to trouble Istra’s ball circulation and composure.

Prediction