- Istra 1961 (home) are 9th in the HNL 2025/2026 table on 5 points from 6 games, Osijek (away) are 7th on 6.
- Istra 1961 are unbeaten in their last 2 home games (W1, D1) and have conceded only 2 goals.
Managerial changes make for intriguing clash in Croatia
Goran Tomić’s appointment as head coach of NK Istra 1961 Pula on the 13th of June has so far seen the club have mixed results in HNL 2025/2026. Tomić has begun to implement a more structured 4-4-2 system where the team can transition well and maintain a defensive discipline.
Istra 1961 are now unbeaten in two at home in HNL 2025/2026 (W1, D1) and have only conceded two goals across those two matches, so they look solid when playing in Pula.
Osijek’s coach Simon Rožman has been at the helm of the side since March 2025 and seems to have a clear idea of what kind of team he wants to build.
Rožman’s style of play is simple, possession-based and proactive. Osijek are not the best side in the Croatian top flight, but they play with tempo and energy and have a clinical striker in Nail Omerovic.
Omerovic has scored 4 goals in his 6 HNL appearances this campaign and 4 of Osijek’s last 5. His hot-streak makes the forward a real threat going into this game, as highlighted in our NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Osijek preview.
Stjepan Loncar has been the talisman for Istra 1961 in HNL 2025/2026, scoring 2 and assisting 2 in HNL 2025/2026. He is the most likely source of creativity and end product for Istra on Sunday, with Osijek likely to look to keep him quiet in this NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Osijek prediction.
Osijek to win low-scoring matchup
Istra 1961 have won one, drawn two and lost none of their previous 3 meetings with Osijek in the HNL, Osijek have failed to win their 2 most recent trips to Pula.
Osijek have won 1, drawn 3 and lost 1 of their last 5 games, with their best performance coming in the last match, a 4-0 home win over Vukovar 91, whilst Istra 1961 have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last 5, with their most impressive result coming in the 1-0 home victory over HNK Gorica.
The bookies have Istra 1961 at 2.40, Osijek at 3.10 and the draw at 3.00 for Sunday’s matchup. The NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Osijek prediction is that Osijek will look to dominate possession in this fixture and stretch Istra’s low defensive block with their possession-focused style and wide full backs. The visitors will have a go in this matchup and that could be their undoing against an Istra side that look to be settling under new head coach Tomić.
The ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ market looks like a good option for this one, given the defensive solidity of both sides and the fact that Osijek have drawn both of their away matches. In addition, this NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Osijek betting tips segment suggests a tight affair with few clear chances for either side.
