- Team form: GNK Dinamo Zagreb are unbeaten in 5 (W3, D2), winning their last 2 matches on the bounce (3-2 aet win over FC Thun & a 2-0 win against Slaven Belupo).
- Recent run: HNK Rijeka have won their last 3 games on the spin (1-0 & 1-0 wins against Derry City in the Conference League), but failed to beat Dinamo in the last 3 home meetings.
- Away stats: GNK Dinamo Zagreb are undefeated in their last 5 away matches in all competitions (W4, D1), scoring 2.20 goals on average and conceding 0.60 goals.
Goals likely as the big boys of the HNL face off
GNK Dinamo Zagreb come into this game as favorites at 2.23, while HNK Rijeka are priced up at 3.06 and the draw at 3.36. Dinamo have a 2-0 win in the Croatia Cup 2025/2026 between these two sides earlier this year to add to their confidence heading into this clash, a result which stretched their streak to three wins from the last five.
However, with Rijeka on a three-game winning streak, things could get interesting at this fixture this Saturday. The home side have had a solid, but not spectacular, run across all competitions over their last 10 (W5, D3, L2) and are a little more likely to edge this one based on their recent form and their solid home record.
HNK Rijeka have won three of their last five home games in all competitions and are scoring and conceding an average of 1.20 and 0.40 goals respectively across those five matches. In contrast, Dinamo have notched up an incredible eight wins and two draws in their last ten across all competitions, and look impossible to beat right now.
Both teams can play
Tactics
Mario Kovacevic's Dinamo are playing a fluid 4-3-3 system in which they press high and man to man, which is causing teams' real problems right now. Matjaz Kek's Rijeka, on the other hand, look to be a more compact and disciplined side in 2026-2027.
Players to watch
Dinamo are the more likely winner here, but Rijeka's current three-game win streak and solid home form might make this a tough match for them, so I will be taking the draw no bet market for small stakes on Rijeka. However, the odds for over 2.5 goals and both teams to score look good value at 1.67 and 1.53 respectively, so that will be my main bet for this game.
- Their man to watch in this match-up will be Dion Drena Beljo, who has scored two goals in one HNL appearance and three of his side's last seven goals across their last five matches.
- The hosts line up in a 4-2-3-1 which is based on maintaining a compact structure with the ball and exploiting space on the break at pace.
- The best player on the field for the home team so far in the HNL has been Amer Gojak, who scored two of Rijeka's 4 goals in the last 5 matches.
