- Lokomotiva sit 7th in HNL 2025/2026 with 26 points from 22 games while Osijek are 10th with 17 points from as many games.
- The last 3 HNL 2025/2026 head-to-head games have ended in draws, the last being 1-1 at Osijek two months ago.
- Lokomotiva’s home record in HNL 2025/2026 is W5, D3, L3, scoring 1.36 and conceding 1.18 goals per game on average.
Lokomotiva look for momentum after mixed run
Nikica Jelavic’s pragmatic and youthful Lokomotiva Zagreb have had a mixed run of late, winning 2, drawing 1 and losing 2 in their last 5 games, but they have won their last 2 at home and haven’t lost there recently.
The club have a varied tactical approach under Jelavic, who took over the reins in July 2025. This NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Osijek preview highlights that they usually play a mobile 4-2-3-1 system, but can set up in a 3-4-2-1 or 4-3-3 when looking to press the opposition, using their wide players to overload the flanks and using their high-speed midfielders to quickly transition from attack to defence and vice versa.
Aleks Stojakovic is their main goal threat, netting 7 times in 21 HNL 2025/2026 games, but the form of Dusan Vukovic, who has scored 2 goals in Lokomotiva’s last 5, has added another dimension to their attacking play.
Sopic seeking quick turnaround at struggling Osijek
Osijek have had a disappointing season so far, and Zeljko Sopic was brought in in October 2025. According to our NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Osijek prediction, the club’s form has remained poor since his appointment, with only 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats from their last 5 fixtures, a run that has seen them lose their last 2.
They have struggled on the road particularly of late, failing to win either of their last 2 away games (D1, L1) and they set up in a 3 at the back system which involves high-intensity pressing, wide wingbacks and lots of movement to try and catch the opposition off guard in the wide areas.
Nail Omerovic has been their most reliable source of goals this season, netting 6 times in 22 HNL 2025/2026 appearances, and often carrying the team’s attacking hopes on his shoulders.
Tight game expected between similar sides
Lokomotiva are the slight favorites at 2.25, while Osijek are 3.05 and the draw is 3.15. The latest NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Osijek prediction suggests Lokomotiva’s solid home form against Osijek’s poor away form makes the hosts rightfully favorites, but the recent history of 3 successive draws suggests the gap between the two teams is not enough for anyone to be certain of a win, and the two sides have similar things to play for, so momentum will be key.
Under 2.5 goals at 1.8 could be the value bet in what may be a tense game in which neither team can afford to give the other any room to counterattack. This is also supported by our NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Osijek betting tips.
