Osijek vs Istra 1961 preview

Croatia flag 2025/2026 1. HNL, Croatia
Stadion Gradski vrt
1. HNL
OsijekOsijek
Istra 1961Istra 1961
KICKOFF :
Round 34 Regular Season

CONTEXT

Osijek host Istra 1961 in 1. HNL (Regular Season) at Stadion Gradski vrt. Domestically, Osijek sit 9th in the table while Istra 1961 are 6th. Power ranking favours Osijek by 0.1 points heading into this fixture.

TL;DR

  • Structural: Osijek possess a marginal 0.1-point power advantage over Istra 1961.
  • Form: Both teams enter with identical form scores of zero and no recent outing data.
  • Squad: No specific squad details provided for either Osijek or Istra 1961.
  • Efficiency: Efficiency metrics unavailable for this matchup.
  • Transition: Transition play data not available for Osijek or Istra 1961.
  • Set pieces: Set-piece xG data unavailable with low confidence and proxy usage for both teams.
  • xVariable: xG statistics absent due to add-on not enabled for either side.
  • Market: Projection split: Osijek 49.4% (Δ+0%) | Draw 27.2% (Δ+0%) | Istra 1961 23.5% (Δ+0%).
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
Jan 25 vs Team A
Feb 1 vs Team B
Feb 8 vs Team C
Osijek T. Radotic
T. Radotic
VS
Istra 1961 K. Režić
K. Režić
1.1
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
1
1.17 i
Last 6 Opponents
Vukovar Rank: 55 L
Lokomotiva Zagreb Rank: 63 D
Hajduk Split Rank: 72 W
Varaždin Rank: 64 L
Rijeka Rank: 72 W
Dinamo Zagreb Rank: 81 L
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
0.5 i
Last 6 Opponents
Slaven Koprivnica Rank: 62 W
Gorica Rank: 61 L
Dinamo Zagreb Rank: 80 L
Vukovar Rank: 54 L
Lokomotiva Zagreb Rank: 63 L
Hajduk Split Rank: 73 L
27
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
27 - 20 - 17
17
No sidelined player data available.

Win Probabilities

Live Win Probability (90 Min)
Home Osijek
49.37%
Draw
27.17%
Away Istra 1961
23.46%

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power ranking is SportMonks' model-based team strength indicator. Historical input capped to 2 seasons.
63.11
62.98
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
Osijek
Istra 1961
Power Score
63.11
62.98
League Position
9
6
Global Rank
393
398

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

–
vs
Osijek — Opponent-weighted form score
Istra 1961 — Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) Osijek Istra 1961

STARTING XI - EXPECTED

Match Formation 4-2-3-1
Match Formation 4-2-3-1
Pitch
M. Malenica
31 M. Malenica
J. Mersinaj
5 J. Mersinaj
L. Jelenić
26 L. Jelenić
B. Barišić
3 B. Barišić
F. Karačić
29 F. Karačić
D. Mejía Moscoso
6 D. Mejía Moscoso
O. Petrusenko
16 O. Petrusenko
D. Bukvić
39 D. Bukvić
T. Teklić
99 T. Teklić
N. Omerović
11 N. Omerović
S. Akere
57 S. Akere

General Information

Date & Time
Competition
2025/2026 1. HNL, Croatia · Round 34 · Regular Season
Stadium
Stadion Gradski vrt
Capacity
1000
Pitch Surface
Grass
Weather
☀️ 12°C, Fair
Referees
Filip Dragasevic
Igor Pajač
Ivan Mihalj
Dario Pranjić

Expected Lineup

Referee : Igor Pajač

Starting XI ▼

31
Marko Malenica
Marko Malenica Goalkeeper
6.92
57
Samuel Akere
Samuel Akere Centre Forward
6.87
39
Domagoj Bukvic
Domagoj Bukvic Right Wing
6.65
3
Borna Barisic
Borna Barisic Left Back
6.79
29
Fran Karacic
Fran Karacic Left Back
7.14
99
Tonio Teklic
Tonio Teklic Attacking Midfield
6.8
5
Jon Mersinaj
Jon Mersinaj Right Back
6.61
26
Luka Jelenic
Luka Jelenic Right Back
6.81
16
Oleksandr Petrusenko
Oleksandr Petrusenko Defensive Midfield
6.68
11
Nail Omerovic
Nail Omerovic Left Wing
6.88
6
David Mejía
David Mejía Defensive Midfield
6.7
Referee : Igor Pajač

Starting XI ▼

1
Franko Kolic
Franko Kolic Goalkeeper
6.93
9
Smail Prevljak
Smail Prevljak Centre Forward
6.92
24
Filip Taraba
Filip Taraba Right Back
6.56
26
Marcel Heister
Marcel Heister Left Back
6.73
10
Stjepan Loncar
Stjepan Loncar Attacking Midfield
6.87
44
R. Hrvatin
R. Hrvatin Right Back
6.43
38
Raul Kumar
Raul Kumar Left Back
6.76
17
Emil Frederiksen
Emil Frederiksen Right Wing
6.93
7
Vinko Rozic
Vinko Rozic Left Wing
6.7
5
Josip Radosevic
Josip Radosevic Defensive Midfield
6.88
16
Samuli Miettinen
Samuli Miettinen Defensive Midfield
6.47

CONCLUSION

This 1. HNL showdown pits closely matched sides, with Osijek's home power edge clashing against Istra's superior league position. Expect a tactical battle at Stadion Gradski vrt, where Osijek's slight superiority could shine through structure and venue familiarity. Absent form and advanced metrics, the contest may turn on execution in open play and defensive solidity. Projections lean Osijek, but Istra's standing suggests resilience. Home advantage tips the scales narrowly for the hosts in a fixture full of early-season intrigue.