- Team form: GNK Dinamo Zagreb have drawn their last two matches against NK Lokomotiva Zagreb (H, 0-0) and FC Thun (A, 1-1).
- Recent form: NK Slaven Belupo have won one, drawn one, and lost three of their last five matches.
- Head-to-head: GNK Dinamo Zagreb have won the last five head-to-head matches against NK Slaven Belupo, including a 4-1 win in HNL 2025/2026 two months ago.
Dinamo are the dominant force in Croatia
GNK Dinamo Zagreb are the heavy favourites for this one at 1.17 and NK Slaven Belupo are a huge long shot at 7.1 to win in the HNL 2026-2027. The market is probably about right given Dinamo have won the last five meetings between these sides, including a 4-1 thrashing when they last visited Koprivnica two months ago.
However, Slaven have a trick up their sleeve in their new boss Mario Gregurina, who has had a much more positive effect on the squad than many predicted since taking over on 1st July 2025. They are still more compact and counter-attacking than their hosts, but the game is unlikely to be a complete mismatch as it has been in the past.
Since the 4-1 defeat to Dinamo in the second half of last season, Slaven have played three more times, gaining a 1-0 home victory over NK Gorica, a 4-1 home defeat to Dinamo in HNL 2025/2026, and a 2-0 away defeat to NK Osijek. That run makes it one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five, and their situation gets worse when looking at their overall record of 1 win, 2 draws and 7 defeats in the last ten.
Slaven can nick a goal, but Dinamo will dominate
Form and recent results
Back-to-back draws suggest that Dinamo have the rhythm required to chase a title, but their two draws in their most recent two matches will have been a minor concern for Mario Kovačević. They are unbeaten in their last ten across all competitions, with seven wins and three draws, and they are undefeated in their last four home games, winning two and drawing two.
Tactics
Dinamo play a good brand of soccer with a lot of ball possession, accurate vertical passes and a strong press, while Slaven are more compact and will look to counter-attack and nick goals from set pieces or turnovers. This game is a classic possession-and-press vs low-block-and-break scenario and Dinamo should dominate possession and force Slaven deep into their half.
Key players and stats
- Marko Dabro is the sharpest blade in the Slaven squad, with two goals in their last five games and half of their total goals during that run.
- Dinamo should have more than enough to win this game, and the odds on a win are 1.17, while over 2.5 goals and both teams to score: yes are 1.32 and 1.86 respectively.
- Slaven are winless after five away games across all competitions, losing all five and conceding 11 goals at an average of 2.20 per match.
- Dinamo have scored an average of 1.50 goals and conceded an average of 0.75 per game at home across the same period.
- Slaven have failed to win any of their last three away games against Dinamo, so the Maksimir hoodoo is real.
