- NK Istra 1961 have won two of the last three meetings between the sides (D1, L0).
- NK Istra 1961 have won one of their last five matches (D1, L4).
- NK Varazdin have won four, drawn three and lost six of their 13 away matches in the HNL 2025/26 season (W4, D3, L6).
Istra 1961 will be looking to repeat HNL 2025/26 double over Varazdin
NK Istra 1961 claimed a 3-1 victory away at NK Varazdin in HNL 2025/2026 two months ago, and the return fixture this Friday will represent an opportunity for them to consolidate their position in the upper echelons of Croatian football. According to our NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Varazdin prediction, this matchup could play a crucial role in shaping the standings.
Istra 1961 sit sixth with 33 points from 26 games, four points behind Varazdin, who sit fourth with 37 points from 26 games.
There is no deep-seated rivalry between the two clubs, but the NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Varazdin preview suggests this game could play a large part in determining the shape of the league in 2025/2026 and could signal a shift in momentum for either side depending on the outcome.
Tactical battle of control vs chaos
Oriol Riera was appointed as the head coach of NK Istra 1961 in September 2025 and has overseen a structured and patient style of play. Istra 1961 set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and look to control the pace of the game by dominating possession and building attacks through the centre or using the width of the pitch to overload defenders.
Smail Prevljak is the chief threat to opposing defences in this system with 11 goals in 23 HNL 2025/2026 appearances, while Pula have won four, drawn four and lost four of their 12 home league matches. Istra 1961 have scored an average of 1.00 goals per game at home this season, conceding 1.25.
Varazdin, meanwhile, have been more chaotic under Nikola Safaric, who took over as head coach in December 2023. They have played with a high-energy pressing style in a compact 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation, looking to take advantage of turnovers with their pace and movement in transition.
Ivan Mamut has been Varazdin’s key player up front this season with eight goals in 24 league games, but it’s been a mixed bag of results of late. They have won only one of their last five league matches (D2, L2); that sole win was a 2-0 home victory over Vukovar 1991, and they also drew 1-1 away at Lokomotiva Zagreb in another recent match.
Varazdin will edge it
Both teams to score looks a good bet at 1.7, but the price of 3.45 for NK Varazdin away win appeals more for the main bet. For those seeking NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Varazdin betting tips, backing the away team here could provide value. While Istra 1961 will look to dominate possession, Varazdin have proven capable of stifling opponents and maintaining their structure away from home recently.
Their most recent matches were a 1-1 draw at NK Lokomotiva Zagreb and a solid 2-0 home win over Vukovar 1991, and based on the latest NK Istra 1961 Pula vs NK Varazdin prediction, they should have enough about them to grab the victory in what should be a tight matchup.
