A home win is expected from this fixture if the league table is anything to judge by. The home fans are optimistic that the difference between 3rd and 8th place in the table will show on the pitch.
Both teams should be fairly well rested for this game, as they have had some quiet days to prepare. Hopefully this will translate into lots of action on the pitch.
Rijeka form and stats
Rijeka have collected 10 points from their 1. HNL home games so far after 2-4-2. We have seen two home losses in a row now for Rijeka, who are hoping that the phrase “third time lucky” applies to them.
Rijeka are returning here after visiting Hajduk Split in a 1. HNL game and winning with a 4-0 scoreline. Before that match, a win away at Inter Zapresic.
As mentioned above, Rijeka "killed" Hajduk Split in their previous game. They need to reset completely for this one and beware of complacency.
Rijeka has scored 10 league goals at home this season, in 8 matches. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 13 goals have been conceded.
Istra 1961 form and stats
The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Istra 1961 so far with only 5 points returning home. The records show 1-2-5 (win-draw-lose). The sun doesn’t shine and the birds do not sing for Istra 1961, who have now gone 14 games without a victory. The Varazdin game was their last win and it’s been a dry spell since.
The manager I. Prelec was unhappy after their last game, a 1. HNL match played at their home ground Stadion Aldo Drosina. Istra 1961 suffered a 1-2 loss to Dinamo Zagreb (placed 1st). It was a defeat before that one as the away game against Osijek wasn't a success with a 0-1 loss.
With the home team given a winning probability of about 80% by the bookmakers, any point(s) for the visitors would be a surprise. Checking earlier matches with similar odds with Istra 1961 as the away team, we found four results. Statistics from these were 0 away wins, 0 draws and 4 defeats. The outsiders lost 4 of these games by at least two goals.
Istra 1961 are seemingly not capable of scoring regularly on their travels in the league. They have only managed 4 goals from 8 away games. As opposed to that, Istra 1961 have seen the ball go into their own net 10 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
Rijeka and Istra 1961 have met before this season: Istra 1961 - Rijeka 0-3. H2H stats regardless of arena (last ten matches): Rijeka 7 wins, 2 draws and Istra 1961 1 victory. As for goals, 5 matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), 5 games had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  M. Ćuže 7 goals |   A. Čolak 6 goals |  A. Gorgon 4 goals |
Rijeka missing players
Istra 1961 missing players
| Rijeka | Istra 1961 | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 16 | 8 | 3 | Played | P | 2 | 8 | 17 |
| 8 | 2 | 2 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | 4 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | Lost | L | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| 28 | 10 | 6 | Scored | S | 0 | 4 | 15 |
| 20 | 13 | 3 | Conceded | C | 3 | 10 | 26 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 88% | 88% |
| 94% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 50% | 71% |
| 56% | 50% | 67% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 12% | 41% |
| 31% | 25% | 33% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 12% | 29% |
| 19% | 12% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 12% | 12% |
| 62% | 88% | 100% | BTTS | BTTS | 0% | 25% | 47% |
| 25% | 0% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 25% | 18% |
| 12% | 12% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 100% | 62% | 47% |
| 5.1 | 4.5 | 2.7 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 3 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| 4.4 | 3.5 | 2 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 10.5 | 5.2 | 5.9 |
| 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.7 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 2 | 2.1 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | Red Cards | R C | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 193 | 80 | 32 | Total Shots | T S | 17 | 64 | 146 |
| 79 | 33 | 13 | Shots on Target | S O | 5 | 25 | 57 |
| 35% | 30% | 46% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 0% | 16% | 26% |
- All of Rijeka's home-matches have had more than 1,5 goals.
- Istra 1961 has the fewest scored goals (4) away
- Istra 1961 have conceded at least twice as many goals as they have scored away.
- Istra 1961 is in the worst form (0-2-4)
- Rijeka has the most scored goals in the first half (18)
- Rijeka have failed to keep a clean sheet in all their home matches.
- Rijeka have scored at least twice as many goals at home as Istra 1961 have scored away.
- Rijeka haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Dinamo Zagreb | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 23 | 38 |
| 2 | Hajduk Split | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 31 |
| 3 | Rijeka | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 28 |
| 4 | Lokomotiva Zagreb | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 28 |
| 5 | Osijek | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 27 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 27 |
| 6 | Gorica | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 18 | -3 | 25 |
| 7 | Slaven Koprivnica | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 19 | -14 | 18 |
| 8 | Istra 1961 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 26 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -11 | 12 |
| 9 | Varazdin | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 26 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 15 | -13 | 12 |
| 10 | Inter Zapresic | 17 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 35 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 17 | -16 | 11 |