1. HNL preview: Can Varaždin edge out victory against Slaven Koprivnica?

We should expect both teams to be fresh and ready for this match, as there is some time since both teams last played. Let's have a look at how the teams are doing!

Varaždin form and stats

In the previous season, Varaždin's league stats were 12 wins, 10 draws and 14 losses, providing 6th place in the 1. HNL. Over these 36 matches they scored {41 goals} and conceded 51. Performing at their own stadium in the last season Varaždin managed 6-6-6 (win-draw-lost) with {20 goals} and 23 conceded.

The Varaždin coach Kovačević and his pawns return home after a 1-1 draw away versus Gorica (placed 5th). Varaždin's goalie Zelenika played a big part in securing a draw after 90 minutes against Gorica with a stunning six saves. Brodić, who usually features in attack, was the top performer for the team in that fixture, and was presented with a rating of 8.0 (out of 10). Brodić scored one goal, hit the woodwork once and hit one key pass.

Preceding that game was the home draw versus Lokomotiva Zagreb that ended 0-0.

The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Varaždin have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found 5 games) they have won 2 times, drawn 3 and lost 0.

Slaven Koprivnica form and stats

Let's have a look at how Slaven Koprivnica performed last season in the 1. HNL: They landed a 8th position in the league table after playing out 10 victories, 13 draws and 13 defeats. In total they scored 27 and conceded {46 goals} in these matches. The numbers for away games only are: Won 5 - drew 6 and lost 7 with 11/21 goals scored/conceded. The visitors' first away game in the 1. HNL ended in defeat. Last season Slaven Koprivnica had these away match statistics: Played 18; won 5, drew 6 and lost 7.

Koprivnica are travelling again after losing away to Osijek in their previous match (1-6). Slaven Koprivnica lost the plot completely in their previous game, as mentioned above. They need to recover quickly from that 1-6 beating and focus on this one. Crnac, attacking player, was the top performer on the team in that game, scoring a match rating of 7.14. Crnac scored one goal and dribled past the opponent 3 of 5 times.

A 1-1 draw at Istra 1961's stadium before that.

Slaven Koprivnica are the outsiders in this one, but not by much. Their performance in similar games (being the away team and moderate outsiders) is 2 wins, 2 draws and 7 defeats. From a total of 11 matches.

{1 goals} so far away for Slaven Koprivnica, while their defence has allowed the opposition to score 6. All from 1 league match away.

Head 2 Head

Previous ten meetings involving these teams: Varaždin won three, Slaven Koprivnica were winners in five and we saw two draws. one game with more than 2,5 goals, nine matches with under 2,5 goals.

Top Goalscorers

F. Brodić 1 goals

A. Crnac 1 goals

Varaždin missing players

Slaven Koprivnica missing players