- Istra have won 1 of their last 3 home matches in the HNL 2025-2026 season.
- Rijeka have won 1 and lost 1 of their last 2 away matches in the HNL 2025-2026 season.
- Both teams have won 2 matches each in the last 5 head-to-head encounters and drawn the other 1.
Rijeka’s midfield maestro is on a goal scoring streak
This NK Istra 1961 Pula vs HNK Rijeka preview highlights that NK Istra 1961 Pula will host HNK Rijeka at home in a crucial HNL match on Sunday. Istra’s pragmatic, pressing style under new coach Kresimir Rezic should suit them in this game as they look to repeat their most recent victory over Rijeka in HNL 2025-2026.
Istra currently sit 5th in HNL 2025-2026 after amassing 42 points from 34 matches. They come into this match off the back of a 3-1 win at home against Slaven and a 1-0 away win against Osijek, making it 2 wins on the bounce. Our NK Istra 1961 Pula vs HNK Rijeka prediction notes that Istra have won 3 of their last 5 matches.
NK Istra 1961 Pula’s home record in HNL 2025-2026 is 6 wins, 4 draws and 7 defeats. Their defensive resilience is respectable as they have only conceded 24 goals in 17 home games, although their attacking output has been below par as a result. Kresimir Rezic’s men press with intensity, look to win the ball back quickly and then transition into attacks with speed. Smail Prevljak is their main scoring threat with 14 goals in 31 HNL appearances, 3 of which came in their last 5 games.
HNK Rijeka have won 5, drawn 5 and lost 7 of their away matches in HNL 2025-2026, conceding 21 goals in 17 away games. Victor Sanchez’s men have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 5 competitive matches, winning 3-0 away against Lokomotiva Zagreb and 3-0 at home against Vukovar 1991, but losing to Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 in the Croatia Cup. Toni Fruk is the club’s in-form player with 12 goals in 29 HNL appearances, and he provides a consistent scoring threat from midfield. Daniel Adu-Adjei has 3 goals in his last 5 matches for Rijeka, however, and is in better form right now.
Istra’s pressing intensity vs Rijeka’s possession control
Rijeka have won 2 of their last 3 visits to Istra 1961 Pula and will likely do so again in this match. Sanchez’s tactical flexibility and possession control has kept them competitive on multiple fronts this season, with his side disciplined in their pressing when without the ball and well structured in their overloads in possession.
When considering the NK Istra 1961 Pula vs HNK Rijeka betting tips, Istra have won just 1 of their last 3 at home and, although they have performed well recently, the NK Istra 1961 Pula vs HNK Rijeka prediction is that Rijeka are the more structured side that should come out on top in this crucial game. We are supporting an away win for HNK Rijeka at 1.76, Under 2.5 goals at 1.85 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.8. This clash of Istra’s high-tempo, pressing game against Rijeka’s controlled possession football should be an interesting tactical chess match in midfield and we expect both to find the net, but goals to be at a premium.
