Varazdin
- Varazdin are unbeaten at home in HNL 2026/2027, winning three of their five matches and conceding just one goal.
- NK Varazdin are on a roll in HNL 2026/2027, sitting 3rd in the table with 18 points from 10 games, while their visitors this Saturday, NK Slaven Belupo, are 8th with 10.
- The results haven't always come, as their record of one win, three draws, and a loss from their last five games suggests.
- However, a point at home to Osijek, a win at Lokomotiva and a tight defeat to Hajduk Split away suggests that they're competitive and that Safaric's in-game changes have kept them in it.
Slaven Belupo
- Slaven Belupo have been poor on the road, drawing one and losing four of their five away games, averaging just 0.40 goals per game.
- Slaven arrive after a confidence-boosting 4-1 win at home to Rijeka, but also after a crushing 5-1 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb.
- Mario Gregurina, who took charge on 1 July 2025, has put his stamp on Slaven by encouraging them to be more compact and pragmatic - they win the ball first, then try to win the game.
Head-to-Head
- This fixture has been end-to-end in HNL 2026/2027, Varazdin are averaging 1.5 goals per home game against Slaven while the visitors are averaging 2.0 away goals.
- The recent H2H record gives Varazdin the edge - they've won three of the last five meetings, including a 4-1 away win over Slaven in HNL 2026/2027 two months ago - and their home record suggests they should keep Slaven out of the game.
Key Players
- Luka Mamic has been their hottest spark in recent weeks, netting twice and scoring two of Varazdin's last three goals.
- Ilija Nestorovski, with five goals in eight matches, is Slaven's danger man in HNL 2026/2027, but he has also contributed five goals to their total of eight in their last five.
- Ivan Canjuga, with three goals in HNL 2026/2027, can be trusted to find the net if needed and to keep the hosts ahead in this contest.
Betting Insights
- It's little surprise that the oddsmakers have made Krojači the clear favorites for this one at 1.65, with 4.38 for the away win and 4.1 for a draw.
- Both sides come into this having played 10 games, so the bookmakers seem to be suggesting that there's only one result and that Varazdin will provide it.
- An under 2.5 goals wager looks like a savvy bet at 2.36, given the home numbers and the away side's struggles, but we're going to take the hosts at the odds.
Prediction
- They can be a good side on their day, but they will find it tough against a Varazdin side that are flying high in the league.
- Having seen both sides in action, there is enough of a case to suggest that they are right.
- An under 2.5 goals wager looks like a savvy bet at 2.36, given the home numbers and the away side's struggles, but we're going to take the hosts at the odds.
