Rijeka vs Osijek Prediction: Derby. A real derby. Traditional, historical and, for Europe.

Rijeka and Osijek play on Sunday (4 pm) at Rujevica stadium. So far: 95 matches between each other and the ratio is completely aligned: 35-25-35. The only advantage is the goal difference, 121:111 for the boys from Rijeka. Osijek has held the third place for half a year, since the 11th round, but with a terrible form (one win in the second part of the season and one goal in the last six games), it will be difficult to see them at the end of the season in the place that leads to Europe. Rijeka is seventh, but has only three points less and is the favorite in this derby of the HNL round in Rujevica. It will be the first game for "White and Blue" from Osijek without captain Mile Skoric, who left for China after ten years in Gradski vrt.

Form:LWWLW

Rijeka had a very turbulent start to the season. Early elimination from European competitions led to a crisis that eventually resulted in a change of coach. Rijeka are trying to climb the place on the ladder that belongs to the opponent, but Osijek also have own mathematics. Rijeka are in seventh place in the ranking with 34 points after 26 games played. Rijeka have so far recorded 10 wins, 4 draws, and even 12 losses with a goal difference of 31-34. At home, they are the second-worst team in the league with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 7 losses with a goal difference of 12-18. In the last 5 games, Rijeka has two wins and two losses with a 1-1 draw against Celje in the last friendly match.

Form:DLDLL

Osijek are in third place in the ranking with 37 points. in the course of the season so far, this team have achieved 10 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses with a goal difference of 33-28. Away from home, they have 4 wins, one draw, and 7 losses with a goal difference of 19-16. Osijek have not won in the last 5 games and travels to Rijeka after playing 0-0 in a friendly match against Hungarian Tiszakecska. At one point, Osijek was in a situation to threaten Hajduk Split in the second place of the HNL, but after a bad month and five consecutive games without a single triumph, things do not look promising for this team.

I expect this to be a very tight and closed game in which neither team will particularly stand out in attack, which will lead to a game with less than 2.5 goals. Rijeka are “chasing” those places that leads to European competitions and we can certainly expect at least one goal from them, but the guests will first try to defend their goal and patiently wait for the chance to score. Even one point in this match will be great for Osijek considering their recent poor form.