NK Osijek vs HNK Hajduk Split Prediction: An Intriguing Encounter Between Two Equally Matched Sides Involving Goals On Both Ends

Hajduk Split will be seeking to lessen their disappointment after being eliminated from the European Conference League by winning on the road when they visit Stadion Gradski Vrt to play NK Osijek on the seventh matchday of the Croatian Championship League.

Form: LDLDL

The hosts, whose form has recently been slightly declining, are seeking a concrete solution that could help them get back on track and begin recording positive results after having a rough start to this season.

When they lost 5:2 on the road to Dinamo Zagreb, they suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats to date. They had hoped to benefit from the fatigue of the defending champions by keeping them at bay or, even better, winning.

And, despite their last six matches not yielding many points, they only managed to accumulate five points before losing to Dinamo Zagreb.

This has pushed them to the bottom of the Croatian championship standings on five points, after finishing third on 49 points last year

Form: WLWW

With little they could have done at home to make up for the two goal deficit they suffered in the first leg (aggregate: 4:2), they faced Villarreal in the second leg of the European Conference League. Instead, they were met with another grueling 2-0 loss that caused them to lose out of the competition.

Since their hopes of playing in the European Conference League have been dashed, their only remaining option is to compete for this season's Croatian championship title.

This is a step back from their previous campaign, which saw them finish second in the standings, 7 points behind table-toppers Dinamo Zagreb.

It was the ideal opportunity for them to return to winning ways in a fruitful game that saw them earn three points by narrowly defeating Lokomotiva Zagreb 2-1 at home before falling to the defending champions 4-1 on the road.

• NK Osijek has not lost to Hajduk Split at home in their last three meetings.
• When playing away, Hajduk Split scores 2.08 goals on average, while NK Osijek scores 1.44 goals at home.
• Hajduk Split have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six Croatian Championship League matches.

In the last 71 meetings, Hajduk Split has won 30 times, NK Osijek has won 19, and there have been 22 draws, with a goal difference of 100-74 in Hajduk Split's favor.

Even if Osijek's season hasn't gotten off to the best start, there is still plenty of time for them to turn things around and move up the standings.

They'll want to put up a strong display at home in front of their supporters by defeating Hajduk Split, who may still be reeling after their elimination from the European competition.

On the other hand, Hajduk Split won't take it lying down either because they'll want to move past their disappointing loss to the yellow submarines and increase their winning streak in the Croatian championship league to two games.

Goals appear to be the best wager to make because both of these teams have a tendency to be unpredictable when it comes to picking a winner. NK Osijek has had three of their last six matches produce three goals or more, and Hajduk Split has also had a respectable number of goals on their side.

• Goals - Over 2.5 for 2.17
• Both Teams To Score (Yes) for 1.83
• European Handicap Corners 0:1 W1 for 2.40