National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Sesvete or Varaždin that keep their silverware dream alive.
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Sesvete and Varaždin.
Sesvete form and stats
Last season their Croatia Cup adventure ended in the 16th finals.Sesvete have collected 3 points from their 2. HNL home games so far after 1-0-3. Two defeats in a row at home hurts for Sesvete, their manager B. Karačić and the supporters. There are certain expectations for improvement.
The Sesvete crowd went home unhappy last time out, seeing their beloved players lose 1-2 to Inter Zapresic here at Stadion Sv. Josip Radnik in a 2. HNL match.
In the game before, an away victory in the 2. HNL match versus Cibalia with a 1-0 scoreline.This is expected to be a close game, with Sesvete perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Sesvete as a small favourite), we find seven games. Sesvete has won three of these, drawn two and lost two.
There's a new game coming up fairly quickly for Sesvete as they are travelling to their away game against Kustosija in the 2. HNL. That match is three days after this one.
The goals haven't exactly been flowing for Sesvete here at Stadion Sv. Josip Radnik in the league, with less than one goal per game on average (3 from 4 games). Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 7 goals have been conceded.
Varaždin form and stats
Varaždin's mission in Croatia Cup last season failed in the 8th finals.1-1-2 is the win-draw-loss statistic for Varaždin in their 2. HNL matches away.
Varaždin's last game was the home draw against Dinamo Zagreb II (1-1).
A 0-1 defeat away at Bijelo Brdo before that.So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Varaždin playing away and similar expectations, we found six relevant matches. Results were three Varaždin wins, two draws and one defeat.
The visitors will be packing their bags again in only four days as another away game awaits: The 2. HNL trip to Solin.
The visitors have scored 3 goals from 4 away games in the league, an average of less than one per game. Varaždin have conceded 5 goals in these away matches.
Head 2 Head
Stats for the preceeding five meetings featuring these two sides are: two wins for Sesvete, one draw and two wins for Varaždin. Over 2,5 goals: two times; under 2,5 goals: three games.Top Goalscorers
  I. Postonjski 2 goals | S. Igrec 2 goals |  Í. Montano Cortés 1 goals |
Sesvete missing players
Varaždin missing players
| Sesvete | Varaždin | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 15 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 10 | 6 | Won | W | 2 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 2 | Drew | D | 5 | 10 | ||
| 10 | 7 | Lost | L | 6 | 11 | ||
| 30 | 19 | Scored | S | 7 | 23 | ||
| 33 | 21 | Conceded | C | 17 | 40 | ||
| 88% | 87% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 85% | 92% | ||
| 64% | 60% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 54% | 68% | ||
| 48% | 53% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 23% | 36% | ||
| 24% | 20% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 23% | 32% | ||
| 12% | 20% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 20% | ||
| 40% | 53% | BTTS | BTTS | 31% | 52% | ||
| 36% | 27% | Clean Sheets | C S | 31% | 16% | ||
| 36% | 33% | Failed to Score | F T | 54% | 40% | ||
| 4.5 | 5.8 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.7 | 5 | ||
| 4.7 | 4.8 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 6.2 | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 2.2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.5 | 2.4 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 3 | ||
| 11.5 | 14.5 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.9 | 10.2 | ||
| 5 | 5.8 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.2 | 3.7 | ||
| 25% | 22% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 17% | 22% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Rudes | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 2 | Jarun | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
| 3 | Orijent 1919 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 11 |
| 4 | Bijelo Brdo | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -1 | 10 |
| 5 | Dubrava Zagreb | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| 6 | Solin | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| 7 | Osijek II | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| 8 | Dugopolje | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 8 |
| 9 | Croatia Zmijavci | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -3 | 8 |
| 10 | Opatija | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 11 | Sesvete | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -3 | 7 |
| 12 | Dinamo Zagreb II | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | Varaždin | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| 14 | Cibalia | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 5 |
| 15 | Kustosija | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -2 | 4 |
| 16 | Inter Zapresic | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -7 | 4 |