- Lokomotiva are 2 wins, 2 ties and 1 defeat in their last 5 HNL matches
- Hajduk Split are 1 win, 2 ties and 2 defeats in their last 5 league games
- Hajduk have won the last two head-to-heads, beating Lokomotiva 2-1 at home eight weeks ago
Hajduk should have the edge in home/road clash
Our NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs HNK Hajduk Split prediction is that Hajduk Split will probably come out on top when they travel to NK Lokomotiva Zagreb for a HNL 2025/2026 regular season clash that has plenty of intrigue and domestic significance.
HNK Hajduk, the traditional powerhouse, are second in the table on 64 points from 34 matches and NK Lokomotiva Zagreb are sixth with 42 points from the same number of games. It’s a clash of the established with the ambitious, the pragmatic with the progressive, and the patient with the energetic.
The visitors are built around a controlled style of play in which they dominate possession and dictate the rhythm of the game with a 4-2-3-1 structure that is controlled from the midfield. Coach Gonzalo Garcia has developed that strategy since taking over in July 2025, but sometimes the game can get away from Hajduk when they play against teams with a different approach, such as Lokomotiva.
Lokomotiva will look to counter-attack
According to this NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs HNK Hajduk Split preview, Nikica Jelavic’s team, which he has built since July 2025, is much more flexible, but it remains pragmatic in approach. They like to play with quick vertical attacks and have a number of players that can run through the channels and create crossing opportunities, but their best chance of getting a good result here will be if they can make the contest into a transition game.
Their two previous games have been a 0-0 tie at Osijek and a 0-3 loss at home to Rijeka, although their home record is 8-4-5 from 17 HNL 2025/2026 matches. They have scored 23 goals at an average of 1.35 per game, but they rarely dominate the ball possession and so tend to have to score when they get the chance.
Mirko Susak has been in good form with two goals in Lokomotiva’s last five, but their most prolific marksman overall has been Aleks Stojakovic with eight in 33 HNL appearances. He is the team’s best chance of creating an opening or scoring a goal in this match.
Hajduk can score multiple goals
The NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs HNK Hajduk Split prediction also notes that Hajduk are winless in their last three away league games, having tied two and lost one, and their overall record away is 8-5-4 from 17 matches. They have conceded an average of 1.00 goals per away game, but can score enough to outscore opponents.
They beat NK Varazdin 3-1 at home, but then suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb - a side they don’t like to face. Michele Sego is their main target man up front with 11 goals from 30 HNL appearances, but there are plenty of players behind him who can pop up with a goal.
Lokomotiva average 2.0 goals at home against Hajduk Split, but the visitors have averaged 2.5 away from home across the last five head-to-heads, which is why we are going with an away win and over 2.5 total goals. Both teams will be desperate to win and it should lead to plenty of attacking, so the NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs HNK Hajduk Split betting tips suggest BTTS - Yes looks a good bet as well. Overall, our NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs HNK Hajduk Split prediction is that this will be an exciting and closely contested match.
