Updated 5 November 2026.
Istra 1961 and Rijeka meet at Stadion Aldo Drosina on Saturday 7 November, kick-off 17:00 UK, in a 1. HNL game between 6th and 5th in the 10-team table. Istra sit 6th on 16 points from 12 games, two behind Rijeka in 5th, who have played a game fewer. A win for the visitors would stretch that gap to five points, and a home win would put Istra above them on points.
Rijeka have the highest both-teams-to-score rate in the division at 73%, and Istra have the 3rd highest at 58%.
Istra have won two of their last five, and both wins came on the road: 2-0 at Slaven Koprivnica on 30 October and 3-1 at Osijek on 10 October. In between came a 2-2 home draw with Hajduk Split and a 2-0 loss at Lokomotiva Zagreb. At home they lost 0-1 to Gorica in September. They average 1.75 goals a game, the 4th most in the league, and they have also conceded 1.5 a game, the 5th most. Over 2.5 goals has landed in 67% of their matches, the 4th highest rate.
Rijeka sit 5th with 18 points and a record of five wins, three draws and three defeats. Their latest result was a 1-1 home draw with Varaždin on 1 November, which followed a 2-1 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb. Before that they won 2-1 at Rudeš, lost 4-1 at Slaven Koprivnica, and beat Hajduk Split 3-0 at home. They average 6.64 corners a game, the most in the division, and 5.45 shots on target a game, the 3rd most.
Rijeka commit 11.91 fouls a game, the 2nd fewest, and pick up 1.64 cards a game, also the 2nd fewest. Istra average 12.08 fouls, the 4th fewest, and 2 cards a game.
Istra 1961 possible starting lineup:
Kolic; Hrvatin, Hodzic, Nasraoui, Momoh; Å epić, Frederiksen, AlbarracÃn; Ahmeti, Skafar Zuzic, Jaganjac
Rijeka possible starting lineup:
Vekic; Orec, Majstorovic, Husic, Devetak; Pavic, Dantas, Cubelic; Fruk, Vignato, Adu-Adjei
Toni Fruk has had at least one shot in 11 straight games and averages 4.4 a game over that run. Alongside him, Samuele Vignato has had a shot in eight straight games.
On the Istra side, R. Hrvatin has made a tackle in all 12 of Istra's league games this season at 2.1 a game, and Nik Skafar Zuzic has done the same at 1.5 a game.
In the Rijeka midfield, Branko Pavic has made a tackle in ten straight games at 3.7 a game. Up front for Istra, Hamza Jaganjac has committed a foul in ten straight games, at 2 a game.
Rijeka are the bookmakers' favourites, with a best price of 1.85 at midnite. Istra 1961 are 3.60 and the draw is 3.50, also at midnite. Both teams to score is 1.67 and over 2.5 goals is 1.80, with over 1.5 goals at 1.25.
| Market | Best price |
|---|---|
| Istra 1961 to win | 3.60 (midnite) |
| Draw | 3.50 (midnite) |
| Rijeka to win | 1.85 (midnite) |
| Both teams to score | 1.67 (midnite) |
| Over 1.5 goals | 1.25 (midnite) |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.80 (midnite) |
Both teams scored in four of Rijeka's last five games and in two of Istra's last five. Over 2.5 goals came up in four of Rijeka's last five and in two of Istra's.
Istra 1961 vs Rijeka in the 2026/27 1. HNL kicks off at 17:00 UK on Saturday 7 November 2026 at Stadion Aldo Drosina. It is a regular season game between 6th and 5th in the 10-team table, with 2 points separating the sides.
Istra 1961 have won 2 of their last 5 1. HNL games before facing Rijeka in the 2026/27 season on 7 November, with 1 draw and 2 defeats. Both wins came away: 2-0 at Slaven Koprivnica on 30 October and 3-1 at Osijek on 10 October.
Rijeka are the 1.85 favourites with midnite for Istra 1961 vs Rijeka in the 2026/27 1. HNL on 7 November. Istra 1961 are 3.60 and the draw is 3.50, with the sides separated by 2 points in the table.
Both teams to score is 1.67 for Istra 1961 vs Rijeka in the 2026/27 1. HNL on 7 November. Rijeka have scored and conceded in 73% of their games, the highest rate in the league, and Istra's rate is 58%, the 3rd highest.
Istra 1961 are 6th with 16 points from 12 games and Rijeka are 5th with 18 points from 11 in the 2026/27 1. HNL season, ahead of their meeting on 7 November. Rijeka have scored 18 and conceded 15.
Toni Fruk has had at least 1 shot in 11 straight 1. HNL games for Rijeka in the 2026/27 season, averaging 4.4 a game, ahead of the trip to Istra 1961 on 7 November. Samuele Vignato has had a shot in 8 straight games.
Istra 1961's predicted XI for the 1. HNL game on 7 November 2026 starts with Franko Kolic in goal and Hamza Jaganjac up front. Rijeka's has Igor Vekic in goal, with Toni Fruk and Samuele Vignato behind the front line.