NK Istra 1961 vs HNK Hajduk Split Prediction: The Green-Yellows' Leaking Defense To Provide Us Plenty Goals!

NK Istra 1961, which has avoided relegation for the last five years, hosts Hajduk Split at the Aldo Drosina stadium. Will the team manage to take revenge for the 1-3 away defeat in May, or will the unfortunate match be repeated again?

NK Istra 1961

The Green-Yellows are back after finishing the 2021/22 season in 9th place.

Finishing 9th for the last five consecutive years and fighting relegation has led to suggestions that the Green-Yellows are a team that's been jinxed for a long time.

With all this speculation, you just have to admire the morale and tenacity of this team, which keeps picking itself up and coming back, and has done a good job of avoiding relegation itself in recent years.

The last game of the season was against Slaven Belupo, which they defeated 3:1 in front of their home crowd.

But that doesn't change the fact that they've conceded 67 goals in all 36 games, which puts them in 3rd place in the league for most goals conceded.

HNK Hajduk Split

After two defeats against Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian Super Cup (after a goalless draw and a 1: 4 deficit in a penalty shootout) and on the last matchday of the Croatian league, which they finished in 2nd place.

They almost had the league cup in their hands if they hadn't stumbled in the last matches and were only 8 points away from first place, but their rivals were 7 points ahead of them and there wasn't much they could've done to change the inevitable event.

The overall performance of the team was flawless and their defense was as solid as a wall, conceding only 31 goals in 33 games. All isn't lost, apart from the two trophies they carelessly gave away.

The last meeting with Istra in 1961 ended in a 3:1 home victory, and the team will be more than motivated to repeat the same when they meet again in the opening match.

Expert Betting Tips

The hosts have the advantage that this match is played at home, which should give them enough ammunition to walk off the field as winners, but that mightn't be the case as their defense was the third worst last season, which should be the case this season as well.

Also, the previous meetings of these two teams don't suggest that the hosts could manage a surprising victory. That's why Hajduk Split is the favorite for an away win to keep their form against the hosts.

An open match is expected and more than 3 goals can be expected if both teams perform.

We trust Hajduk Split to get an unchallenged away win, with -1.0 AH in their favor.

• Total Goals Over 2.5 for 1.85
• Handicap 2 -1 for 1.80
• Both teams to score-Yes for 1.92

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