NK Osijek vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction: The Hosts' Looking To Take Advantage Of The Blues Lack Of Focus Due To A Condensed Timetable

NK Osijek play host to Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadion Gradski vrt for their 15th matchday of the Croatian championship and will fancy their chances of getting back to winning ways after their 4-1 loss to NK Varazdin on the road.

Form: LWWWW

While they were happy to take the lead against NK Varazdin after 18 minutes of the first half, they were unaware that the pressure would prove to be too much for them to bear, leading to their demise and a 4-1 loss on the road.

While they were on a four-match winning streak, Ivica Kulesevic's men enter this game having established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. A loss was the only close call that could have marred their stellar record in the previous five games, which resulted in 12 points being earned.

With their impressive run of results keeping them in third place with 24 points, one point ahead of Slaven Belupo in fourth, and their hopes of taking first place overshadowed by an 11 point deficit, they may be able to focus on taking second place in the rankings as they are only 6 points behind HNK Hajduk Split.

Form: DWWWW

The Blues were mowed down to a 4-0 defeat at home by AC Milan on the fifth matchday of the Champions League during the weekday and while they failed to advance to the knockout stages, they still have the theoretical odds in their favor to advance to the European League group stages.

Prior to that, they faced rivals HNK Hajduk Split in the Croatian championship and trailed by a goal 27 minutes into the first half, but managed to equalize through Petkovic's penalty in the 72nd minute to salvage a point.

Their unbeaten run has stretched to 13 games, and with their form remaining impressive, they have won four of their past five games while only drawing once, for a total of 13 points.

They have firmly established their superiority as they occupy 1st place with 35 points, leaving a 5 point deficit to second-placed HNK Hajduk Split, who are becoming increasingly determined to close the gap.

• Dinamo Zagreb have struggled to keep a clean sheet in their past four Croatian championship games.
• In the Croatian championship, NK Osijek is unbeaten in their past ten home games.
• NK Osijek scores 1.86 goals on average at home, while Dinamo Zagreb scores 2 goals on average away.
• NK Osijek has been unbeaten in two of their last five away home meetings against Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian championship.

In the last 74 matches, NK Osijek has won 10 times, Dinamo Zagreb has won 47 times, and there have been 17 draws, with Dinamo Zagreb winning by a goal differential of 135-49.

Given their impressive home record this season, which has seen them go unbeaten in their last ten home games, it will be unrealistic for them not to perform to their full potential and relentlessly fight for a convincing result at home.

Dinamo Zagreb did not put in an impressive performance on the road against HNK Hajduk Split because they were not at their best. They will have to deal with a condensed schedule ahead of them, so rotations are to be expected in this match as Ante Čačić fields out his key players.

While the hosts had a poor start to the season, they have progressively picked up the pace, demonstrating consistency, and with all of their important players on board, we expect to see a battling attitude on their side, which is why we believe they will be eager to continue their resurgence.

Opting for a defensive strategy is to be expected from both ends, which is why we are hesitant to choose a winner because this match might go either way. Thus, a +1 goal advantage to the hosts heading into this meeting should suffice.

• European Handicap - 1:0 W1 for 1.80
• Full-time Result - Draw for 3.50
• Both Teams To Score (No) for 1.90