Our HNK Rijeka vs Istra 1961 Prediction: 2-1
HNK Rijeka vs Istra 1961 in the Croatia HNL is scheduled for an 16:45 GMT kick-off on Sunday March 15, 2026. A 2-1 result in favor of the hosts is our main pick, yet with both teams likely to get on the scoresheet, BTTS is another bet worth considering.
This HNK Rijeka vs Istra 1961 prediction is backed by a deep dive into both teams' recent performances, key stats and head-to-head history — all of which you'll find detailed below to help you make an informed betting decision.
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Recent Form Insights
HNK Rijeka's Last Match – HNK Rijeka vs Strasbourg
After suffering a 1-2 UEFA Conference League loss to Strasbourg, HNK Rijeka must win to get back on track. In that match, HNK Rijeka controlled 50% of possession and managed 10 shots on goal, with 7 hitting the target.
| Team | Possession | Shots (on target) | xG | Dangerous Attacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 HNK Rijeka | 50% | 10 (7) | 1.26 | 61 |
 Strasbourg | 50% | 11 (5) | 2.5 | 31 |
Istra 1961's Last Match – Istra 1961 vs NK Osijek
Istra 1961 will be eager to respond after suffering a 0-1 Croatia HNL defeat at the hands of NK Osijek on March 6. In that match, Istra 1961 had 57% possession and 2 shots on target.
| Team | Possession | Shots (on target) | xG | Dangerous Attacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Istra 1961 | 57% | 0 (2) | - | 65 |
 NK Osijek | 43% | 0 (4) | - | 52 |
HNK Rijeka vs Istra 1961 Stats
Key Stats
| HNK Rijeka | Istra 1961 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.48 | Attacking Strength | 1.42 |
| 0.66 | Defence Strength | 1.05 |
| 2 | Points Per Game | 1 |
| 6/10 | WIN | 3/10 |
| 2/10 | DRAW | 1/10 |
| 4/10 | Clean Sheets | 0/10 |
| 4/10 | BTTS | 6/10 |
| 4/10 | Over 2.5 Goals | 6/10 |
| 1.5 | Average Scored | 1.5 |
Goals Scored vs Goals Conceded
HNK Rijeka are averaging 1.4 goals scored and 0.8 conceded per match, while Istra 1961 average 1.5 scored and 1.7 conceded per game.
HNK Rijeka 14-8
Istra 1961 15-17
What are the odds for this match?
HNK Rijeka to win: @1.533
Draw: @3.5
Istra 1961 to win: @6.5
Over 2.5 Goals: @1.8
Lineups
HNK Rijeka: Duje Cop, Christian Ouguehi, Gabrijel Rukavina, Noel Bodetic, Tiago Dantas, Martin Zlomislic, Anel Husic, Dejan Petrovic, Ante Matej Juric, Ante Majstorovic, Justas Lasickas
Istra 1961: Mohamed Nasraoui, Raul Kumar, Antonio Mauric, Josip Radosevic, Marcel Heister, Leo Stulac, Advan Kadusic, Smail Prevljak, Silvio Gorican, Emil Frederiksen, Franko Kolic
Dinamo Zagreb 
Hajduk Split 
HNK Rijeka 
NK Varazdin 
Slaven Belupo 
Istra 1961 
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 
HNK Gorica 
NK Osijek 
Vukovar 91