Istra 1961 - HNK Gorica prediction 19 September 2026

The Istra 1961 vs HNK Gorica prediction for the HNL match on Sep 19, 2026, at 18:00 at Stadion Aldo Drosina in Pula, Croatia, favors the home side. Based on current form and league standings, Istra 1961 has a 55% chance of winning, the draw is at 25%, and HNK Gorica has a 20% chance. This betting tips preview analyzes team form, head-to-head record, and win probability to help you decide who will win.

Team Form

Istra 1961's last five results: W, W, D, D, L. They secured a 3-2 home win against Rudes on Sep 13 and a 5-0 away cup victory at Zagorec Krapina on Sep 8. Before that, they drew 0-0 at NK Varazdin and 2-2 at home against Dinamo Zagreb, and lost 3-2 at Rijeka. The team is unbeaten in their last three league matches (W1 D2), showing resilience at home where they have scored 7 goals in 3 games.

HNK Gorica's recent form is poor: D, L, D, L, L. They drew 1-1 at Uskok Klis in the Cup on Sep 9, lost 1-0 at Dinamo Zagreb on Sep 5, drew 0-0 at home with Rijeka, and suffered away defeats to NK Slaven Belupo (2-0) and Hajduk Split (2-1). With only 2 goals scored in 6 league games, their attack has been ineffective, and they have failed to win any of their last five matches.

Head-to-Head Record

The head-to-head record between these teams shows HNK Gorica with a clear advantage: 6 wins to Istra 1961's 3, with 4 draws. In the last five meetings, HNK Gorica has won four times, including a 1-0 home win on Apr 27, 2026. Istra 1961's only recent success was a 1-0 home victory in August 2025. The last encounter at this venue ended 0-2 in favor of HNK Gorica in February 2026.

League Table Positions

Istra 1961 is 6th in the HNL with 6 points (1W, 3D, 2L), scoring 11 and conceding 10. At home, they have collected 4 points from 3 matches (1W, 1D, 1L). HNK Gorica sits at the bottom in 10th place with just 1 point (0W, 1D, 5L), having scored only 2 goals and conceded 10. Their away form is the worst in the league, with zero wins and only 1 point from 6 games overall.

Win Probability: Istra 1961 or HNK Gorica?

After evaluating all factors, Istra 1961 has a 55% chance of winning, the draw is at 25%, and HNK Gorica has a 20% chance. The home team's superior league position, better recent form (unbeaten in three league games), and HNK Gorica's scoring struggles (2 goals in 6 matches) make Istra 1961 the clear favorite. However, HNK Gorica's historical dominance in this fixture adds a note of caution, so a draw remains a plausible outcome.

Odds & Match Prediction

No bookmaker odds are available for this match at the moment. Based on the stats, the match outcome is likely a home win for Istra 1961. Given both teams' recent scoring patterns, under 2.5 total goals could be a sensible betting tip. Our final Istra 1961 vs HNK Gorica prediction is a 2-0 or 1-0 victory for the home side, but a draw cannot be completely discounted.