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Sat 19 Sept · 19:00

Istra 1961 vs HNK Gorica prediction

Follow Istra 1961Follow HNK GoricaFollow this match
Round
Regular Season - 8
Venue
Stadion Aldo Drosina, Pula
Referee
Dario Bel, Croatia

Published by the BetGenius Editorial Desk · Editorial policy

Form

Recent form

Istra 1961
68Strong

Last 5 matches · 2W-2D-1L · +5 goal difference

HNK Gorica
41Poor

Last 5 matches · 1W-1D-3L · -2 goal difference

Our call

Our verdict

Double Chance
Istra 1961 or Draw

BetGenius backs Istra 1961 or Draw (Double Chance) at 76% confidence — a strong call. Total goals: Under 2.5 Goals.

76%
Confidence
Strong
Preview

Match preview

Istra 1961 welcome bottom-placed HNK Gorica to the Aldo Drosina stadium in round eight of the HNL campaign. The hosts sit sixth in the standings with nine points and come into this fixture on a positive run of form, having remained unbeaten across their last four matches in all competitions, including a 3-2 home victory against Rudes and a 2-2 draw with Dinamo Zagreb.

In contrast, HNK Gorica are enduring a difficult league season, sitting in tenth place with just two points from seven matches and yet to record a league victory. Their away form has been particularly challenging, suffering three defeats from three road trips while scoring just once and conceding six times.

While historical head-to-head records show Gorica holding an edge over the longer term with six wins from ten encounters, meetings between these sides have consistently been low-scoring affairs, averaging only 1.6 goals per game with 80 percent finishing under 2.5 goals.

Analysis

Key factors

  1. HNK Gorica are winless in the league this season with two draws and five defeats from seven matches.
  2. HNK Gorica have lost all three away league games, scoring one goal and conceding six.
  3. Istra 1961 have avoided defeat in four consecutive matches across all competitions.
  4. Istra 1961 average 2.3 goals scored per game at home in the league.
  5. Eight of the last ten head-to-head encounters between these clubs have produced under 2.5 goals.
Numbers

Statistical comparison

Istra 1961 at homeHNK Gorica away
3
Played
3
1-1-1
W-D-L
0-0-3
2.3
Scored /game
0.3
1.7
Conceded /game
2
—
Clean sheets
—
—
Failed to score
—
60%
BTTS (last 5)
40%
80%
Over 2.5 (last 5)
40%

Combined scoring rate: 2.6 goals per game (Istra 1961 at home plus HNK Gorica away).

Players

Key players this season

Istra 1961

  • E. Frederiksen7G · 3A
  • H. Jaganjac4G
  • D. Ahmeti4A

HNK Gorica

  • B. Bogojević4G

League scoring and assist totals for this season — not a predicted lineup. Availability is only shown where team news names the same player.

Table

Table context

Full table →
#TeamPGDPts
3NK VarazdinPromotion - Conference League (Qualification)10+618
4NK OsijekPromotion - Conference League (Qualification)10+417
5HNK Rijeka9+417
6Istra 196110+112
7NK Lokomotiva Zagreb10-410
8NK Slaven Belupo10-1010
9Rudes10-147
10HNK GoricaRelegation - Prva NL10-86
History

Head-to-head

Full record →
2
Istra 1961
2
Draws
6
HNK Gorica

HNK Gorica have won 6 of the last 10 meetings, averaging 1.6 goals a game, only 20% went over 2.5.

  • 2026-04-27HNK Gorica1-0Istra 1961
  • 2026-02-21Istra 19610-2HNK Gorica
  • 2025-11-23HNK Gorica1-0Istra 1961
  • 2025-08-29Istra 19611-0HNK Gorica
  • 2025-04-12HNK Gorica3-2Istra 1961
BetGenius

Our record in HNL

69%25 won from 36 settled predictions

Settled results only — every published pick is recorded win or lose. Full track record →

Based on at least 20 settled predictions.
Predictions

1 published market

FeaturedLOST
Double Chance
Istra 1961 or Draw
76%
Confidence

Istra 1961 enter this encounter with solid momentum, having scored seven goals across three home league matches and remaining undefeated in four straight matches across all competitions. HNK Gorica have struggled to generate results on the road, losing all three of their away league matches while averaging just 0.33 goals scored per away fixture. Given Gorica's winless league record this season and Istra's steady output led by E. Frederiksen with seven goals, backing the hosts to secure at least a point offers strong alignment with current form.

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Published September 18, 2026. Form, team news and table context refresh automatically.