National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Varaždin or Osijek that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Varaždin nor Osijek as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Varaždin form and stats
Varaždin was eliminated in the round of 16 last season in the Croatia Cup.The overall 1. HNL results at home this season for Varaždin are 2-3-3 (wins-draws-losses).
The Varaždin supporters got no joy from their last match, also played here at Stadion Anđelko Herjavec: A 0-3 defeat against Rijeka. Stanić, defender, was given a rating of 7.01/10 in that game, top of the team. Stanić won 5 of 6 duels.
Before that match, a 1. HNL win away at Šibenik.The manager Šafarić will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Gorica in only four days.
The Varaždin fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 10 in 8 matches. With more than 1,5 conceded goals on average, the Varaždin defense is not exactly impregnable. 12 goals conceded from 8 games. You can find more goal stats on the Statistics tab above.
Osijek form and stats
Osijek was sent out of Croatia Cup in the semi-finals last season.3 wins, 0 draws and 5 losses. That’s the product of Osijek playing as the away team in the 1. HNL this season.
There might be some fixture complaints from Osijek as they are again playing away from home after losing on the road in their previous game, 1-3 against Hajduk Split. Leovac got a match rating of 7.24 in that game, top player of the team. Leovac scored one goal and hit one key pass.
Before that, Osijek secured a home win against Dinamo Zagreb with the score 1-0.The visitors will be packing their bags again in only four days as another away game awaits: The 1. HNL trip to Šibenik.
Osijek are not goal shy away from home in the league, finding the net 13 times in 8 away games so far. Osijek have conceded 15 goals in these games.
Head 2 Head
Data for the last ten meetings featuring these two squads are: two wins for Varaždin, four draws and four wins for Osijek. Over 2,5 goals: four times; under 2,5 goals: six games.
Top Goalscorers
  M. Caktaš 7 goals |  L. Kleinheisler 6 goals |  D. Dijon 6 goals |
Varaždin missing players
Osijek missing players
| Varaždin | Osijek | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 14 | 25 | ||
| 14 | 5 | Won | W | 7 | 13 | ||
| 5 | 4 | Drew | D | 1 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 3 | Lost | L | 6 | 7 | ||
| 46 | 21 | Scored | S | 23 | 40 | ||
| 35 | 17 | Conceded | C | 21 | 31 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 96% | ||
| 88% | 92% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 79% | 76% | ||
| 76% | 67% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 64% | 56% | ||
| 36% | 33% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 36% | 32% | ||
| 20% | 17% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 21% | 16% | ||
| 76% | 67% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 52% | ||
| 8% | 8% | Clean Sheets | C S | 36% | 36% | ||
| 16% | 25% | Failed to Score | F T | 14% | 16% | ||
| 4.5 | 5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 2.7 | 4 | ||
| 4.2 | 3.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5 | 4.2 | ||
| 2.4 | 2.3 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.8 | 1.9 | ||
| 4 | 2 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 2 | ||
| 12.9 | 14 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.8 | 11.8 | ||
| 5.2 | 5.3 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 4.4 | 4.9 | ||
| 34% | 30% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 38% | 33% | ||
| 11.3 | 11.2 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 11.2 | 10.3 | ||
| 4.1 | 4.3 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 4.6 | 4.2 | ||
| 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 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 26 | 38 |
| 2 | Hajduk Split | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 34 |
| 3 | Osijek | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 27 |
| 4 | Slaven Koprivnica | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 24 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -10 | 25 |
| 5 | Varaždin | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 12 | -2 | 22 |
| 6 | Istra 1961 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | -1 | 20 |
| 7 | Rijeka | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 11 | -5 | 15 |
| 8 | Lokomotiva Zagreb | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 18 | -8 | 15 |
| 9 | Šibenik | 16 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -7 | 13 |
| 10 | Gorica | 16 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 14 | -13 | 7 |
