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Istra 1961 vs Hajduk Split Prediction & Betting tips
Nine games are still outstanding in the 1st HNL, Croatia’s top division. The 18-time national champion Hajduk Split is not only 20 points behind leader Dinamo Zagreb, but also two points behind HNK Rijeka, who currently holds the second potential Champions League starting place in the country of the current vice world champion. It is the position that the Bili still want to fight for in the last quarter of the season.
It is clear that for such an undertaking, an away win at the bottom of the table, who has only won four of their previous 27 league games, is an absolute must. The odds comparison on a betting basis provides information about which bookmaker offers the best odds at Istra against Hajduk Split.
No wonder, because with Istra against Hajduk Split the prognosis is also influenced by the “head to head” comparison of both teams. Since 18 matches, the footballers from Istria have been waiting for another three against Bili (two draws, 16 defeats).
Further betting recommendations for the 28th matchday of the Croatian HNL and other international football leagues can be found in the betting tips section Football International.
Istra:
The NK Istra 1961 was founded in 1948 in the city of Pula in Istria, contrary to what the club’s name suggests. After a merger in 1961 with city rival NK Pula, another name change followed in 1964.
However, it took almost 40 years before the Zeleno-žuti became noticeable when they reached the national cup final in summer 2003 as the first second division in Croatian football history, which they lost to today’s opponent Hajduk Split. The greatest success in the club’s history is therefore closely linked to the guests.
A year later, the Verudeži finally moved up to the 1st HNL, to which the footballers from Istria have belonged with a two-year break between 2007 and 2009. However, there were no groundbreaking successes. The men from Pula have only landed three times since they belonged to the top division in the country, at least in sixth place at the end of the season – the last time in summer 2017.
Quiet seasons, but they are now a long way from that. Last summer the NK Istra landed on the penultimate place in the table and only held the class in the relegation against the second of the 2nd HNL, HNK Šibenik. The Zeleno-žuti are heading for exactly this goal again, even though the ice is currently very thin with only two points in the last place.
Points consequently have to come, although the start program for the re-start has it all. Last Sunday, Ivan Prelec’s men had to compete at home against second-placed HNJ Rijeka, against whom it was clearly 1: 3 at the end. And now Hajduk Split is the next heavyweight at Aldo Drosina.
In Istra against Hajduk Split, the odds of all bookmakers clearly speak against Verudeži, who have already lost 16 of their 27 league games and only have four games won in seven more draws. It is also clear that the match the following Tuesday, when Inter Zaprešić is currently at the bottom in Pula, will be significantly more relevant.
Given a significant performance gap in the squad, coach Ivan Prelec might not be sending the best eleven to the field in this home game, but sparing one or the other key player for Inter Zaprešić. This also favors the bet on Bili’s away win.
Hajduk Split:
The traditional Croatian club Hajduk Split has won 18 national championships to date – nine each in Croatia’s top division and nine in the former Yugoslav league. Only in the recent past has it become a bit quieter around the Bili.
The Majstori s mora last won the championship title in 2005. Since then, only two national cup wins have been celebrated in 2010 and 2013. In addition, there were also a number of inglorious incidents. For example, the suspension by the Croatian Football Association when the transfer fee for new signing Ante Rukavina was not paid in spring 2012.
In terms of sport, the Bili can still be found regularly in the front ranks of the 1st HNL and occasionally slipped into the qualifying rounds for the Champions League, which was, however, the last time in the 1994/95 season – but with lasting success at that time: The Bili’s trip went to the quarter-finals.
Now the chances are not bad that the traditional club will qualify for the qualifying round for the premier class for the first time in 15 years. However, the Majstori s mora have to win the duel with HNJ Rijeka for second place in the table. At the moment there are two points missing, which can still be easily made up in nine remaining games.
Even under its own steam, since Hajduk will still be dealing with the Riječki bijeli on July 19, 2020. Before that, however, not too many points may remain. Accordingly, Igor Tudor’s troop must travel to Istria, where a victory is mandatory for the third to last of the 1st HNL.
The re-start certainly speaks for the fact that tip 2 works out against Ij against Hajduk Split. After all, the Bili won in the first match after the three-month break against taillight Inter Zapresic 2-1 and thus kept a comparatively small club, which was similar to NK Istra, with its back to the wall, in check.
The balance sheet should also encourage. The Majstori s mora have not lost to Verudeži in 18 games and were able to assert themselves 2-1 at home against NK Istra on December 15, 2019. Half a year ago, the Bili even turned a 0-1 break after a double pack from superstar Mijo Caktas. It will certainly depend on the playmaker again today.
Istra 1961 vs Hajduk Split head to head matches
15.12.19 1HN Hajduk Split Istra 1961 2 : 1
29.09.19 1HN Istra 1961 Hajduk Split 1 : 1
21.07.19 1HN Hajduk Split Istra 1961 2 : 0
19.05.19 1HN Hajduk Split Istra 1961 4 : 1
30.03.19 1HN Istra 1961 Hajduk Split 0 : 2