NK Istra 1961 - Varazdin predictions and free betting tips [17/05/2024]

Today at 16:00, the Croatian Championship match between Istra 1961 and Varaždin will take place at the "Aldo Drosina" stadium in Pula.

Current form of Istra 1961

Istra 1961 continues its campaign in the current season of the Croatian First Football League (HNL). On 12 May, the team faced Hajduk Split. The final score of 1:1 reflected the intense struggle on the pitch. Istra 1961 started the match rapidly, showing an attacking stance from the first minutes. By the 4th minute, Lamine Salim Fago opened the scoring, putting the ball in Hajduk's net. However, the guests managed to equalise during the first half. On the 42nd minute, Perišić scored, setting the final result of the match. Currently, Istra 1961 occupies the 8th place in the HNL standings with 38 points after 34 matches. The team has secured 9 wins, suffered 14 losses, and drawn 11 times. Goals scored — 34, conceded — 52. The team's recent performances have been mixed (one draw, three wins, and one loss). Meanwhile, Hajduk Split confidently holds 3rd place with 62 points, showcasing more consistent results with 19 wins and 10 losses this season.

Current form of Varaždin

On 11 May, Varaždin demonstrated a brilliant and confident game, securing a victory over one of the current Croatian Championship leaders, Rijeka. The match ended 3:1 in favour of Varaždin, which became a significant achievement for the team positioned 6th in the standings. At present, Varaždin is in sixth place in the Croatian Championship for the 2023/2024 season. The team has played 34 matches, winning 10, losing 12, and drawing 12 times. The total number of goals scored and conceded is 39:43, and the team has 42 points. In the last 5 rounds, Varaždin has achieved 3 wins and 2 losses. Rijeka, despite the defeat, maintains its second place in the standings with an impressive 71 points over 34 matches. Only 7 losses this season make it one of the most stable teams in the championship.

Match Prediction: Istra 1961 - Varaždin

Both teams are outside of the top-5, and will play without significant pressure. Considering their successful matches in May, I am leaning towards a Total Over 2.5 goals bet.