Osijek vs Varazdin Prediction: The hosts are the favorite despite the bad form

During the winter transfer window, Osijek was left without the best players, no one came, and with that move alone, they said goodbye to any ambitions this season. However, the results are really suffering, and they will try to get back on the winning track against Varazdin, who are visiting “Gradski vrt” stadium on Sunday from 19:30 in the 23rd round of the HNL. 

Osijek confidently welcomed the continuation of the championship. There was a faint hope that they could overtake Hajduk in the table and get at least second place, but as the spring part of the season progresses, the question is whether they will be able to keep that third place as well. In the first five rounds of the continuation of the championship, Osijek won only once against Gorica, drew with Rijeka and Slaven Belupo, and lost against Lokomotiva and Istra. With a measly five points in five games, they lost a step behind Hajduk, who escaped to plus nine, and fourth-placed Istria is breathing down their necks. The team from Pula came close to minus five. 

In the past three rounds, Varazdin have not gained a single point, they did not even have an easy schedule, considering that they first welcomed Hajduk, then there was a visit to Slaven Belupo, and in the end they hosted Dinamo. Now they have a not much easier away game in Osijek. Kovacevic cannot count on the suspended Elezij, Skaricic and Teklic who have problems and it remains to be seen whether they will be in the plans for this match, but Jelenic and Drozdek, who recently returned to the club, are back in the competition. What is particularly pleasing is the return to the pitch of Igor Postonjski, who had broken leg. This week he played half time in a friendly match against Jarun.

Osijek started the spring part of the season with bad results, but continues their fight for Europe, where there is not much room for setbacks, especially since direct competitors have come very close. Varazdin, on the other hand, have a difficult away game against Osijek, but they can be relaxed because this team is safe in the middle of the table. I think that Osijek is the absolute favorite at home, plus this team have bigger motivation to go for all 3 points.