- Lokomotiva are winless in two at home (D1, L1) with an average of 1.00 goals per game scored and 1.33 conceded.
- Varazdin are in fine form having taken two wins and two draws from their last five matches (D2, W2).
- Varazdin are expected to make it a tough encounter for Lokomotiva with a compact system, rapid transitions and a reliable goalscorer.
Lokomotiva v Varazdin is a clash of styles in the HNL
This NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Varazdin preview highlights that both teams are locked in on nine points apiece from six matches in HNL 2025-2026, with the hosts sitting in fourth place by virtue of their superior goal difference.
Nikica Jelavic has brought a youthful, attacking approach to Lokomotiva after being appointed as head coach on June 17, 2025 and quickly instilled a vertical, possession-based 4-3-3 system on his players.
The young players have taken to the new system well and press with a young energy, while the width and quick passing combinations have made them a threat in the final third.
Aleks Stojakovic is Lokomotiva’s top scorer in the HNL 2025/2026 with one goal in six, but a number of players can play in the same position, giving the team a different look each week with Jelavic’s rotation.
Safaric has always been a pragmatist, signing a new contract with Varazdin in May 2025 to continue his system-first approach to the game. Defensively stable and tactically flexible, his teams have always been set up to be compact and dangerous in transition down the wings.
Both teams score an average of 0.50 goals per-game across their last five head-to-heads at Lokomotiva, suggesting this could be a close one and that any NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Varazdin prediction will be challenging to make with confidence.
Upset specialist
Varazdin are slightly favored over Lokomotiva in the match result market at 2.50 compared to 2.75 for the hosts, with the draw coming in at 3.10, suggesting that the bookmakers expect a closely contested game on Saturday. Our NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Varazdin betting tips reflect this tight outlook, with focus on alternative markets.
Lokomotiva have drawn their last two matches following a 1-1 away draw at Rijeka three days ago, while Varazdin have shown their quality with a 2-0 win over Hajduk Split and a 2-2 home draw with Dinamo Zagreb during the same period.
Varazdin have one win and one loss from their two away HNL 2025/2026 fixtures, scoring 1.5 and conceding 2.0 goals per-match on average.
Varazdin’s Aleksa Latkovic is in great form, scoring three goals in his six HNL 2025/2026 games to date and slotting home half of his team’s goals across the last six.
Both of these teams have the attacking quality to get on the scoreboard and both have been conceding recently, so the both teams to score market could be the best option in this game. This NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs NK Varazdin prediction leans toward an open match with chances for both sides.
Lokomotiva’s home form has been underwhelming, with no wins in their last two at Stadion Kranjčevićeva. With Varazdin’s excellent form and clinical finishing of Latkovic, we’re taking the slight favorite to edge this one.
