- NK Slaven Belupo have won two of their last three home games against Osijek.
- Both teams have won one and drawn one of the last three meetings between the clubs.
- Slaven have won seven, drawn two and lost just three of their 12 home games in HNL 2025/2026.
Slaven’s structure and stability should see them past Osijek
NK Slaven are a well-drilled, team-first unit under Mario Gregurina’s leadership and the 4-2-3-1 structure they employ is as compact and dense as their coach would like it to be. It has clearly brought stability and results to Koprivnica this season, with Belupo unbeaten in their last two home matches in all competitions, including a penalty shootout win in the Croatia Cup.
They come into this game in fifth place in HNL 2025/2026 on 35 points from 26 games, while Osijek are languishing in ninth with just 24 from the same number of games. The NK Slaven Belupo vs NK Osijek prediction is therefore slightly in favor of the home side, as Gregurina’s side have won two, drawn two and lost only one of their last five outings and possess the momentum and squad stability to edge this one.
Adriano Jagusic is the best player in the team and has contributed seven goals in 20 appearances in the league this season. He gives Slaven a consistent attacking threat and the fact they average 1.67 goals per game at home suggests they should be a threat to Osijek’s goal here. This NK Slaven Belupo vs NK Osijek preview highlights Slaven's attacking capabilities and home advantage.
Radotić’s men can press and run, but lack Slaven’s solidity
Osijek’s forward line has become more aggressive under Tomislav Radotić, who took over at the helm in late February 2026. He has brought energy and a pressing mentality to the team, who are now more capable of getting on the front foot and making things happen in transition.
Nail Omerovic is their best player and most lethal finisher with seven goals in 25 league appearances this term, so he is the most likely player to score for Osijek. But Radotić’s team have won just two and lost seven of their 12 away games in HNL 2025/2026 and average just 1.00 goals on their travels, so are unlikely to score more than once in this match.
The last NK Slaven Belupo vs NK Osijek prediction also ended in a goalless draw, with both teams emphasizing defensive discipline. Osijek’s last away win was a hard-fought 1-0 victory at NK Istra 1961, which shows they can grind out results but they are unlikely to do so against a solid Slaven side on Sunday.
A close game seems highly likely given the contrasting styles of these teams. Our NK Slaven Belupo vs NK Osijek betting tips emphasize Belupo’s ability to stay compact and their strong midfield core could be the key to them snatching a win in Koprivnica.
