Week 29 brings us a match on Apr 2nd where Istra 1961 will host Rijeka in a meeting of these two closely matched 1. HNL teams. Weather on match day is looking like a windy and cool day, with daytime temperatures of only 7 degrees, so hopefuly the match makes up for the weather. In their last match, 9th placed Istra 1961, recorded a 0-0 scoreless draw against Hrvatski Dragovoljac. Neither Hrvatski Dragovoljac nor Istra 1961 could manage to put one past the goalie. They had 9 and 10 shots on net respectively, but no one could score, and the match ended in a 0 – 0 draw,. They’re hoping to improve on their recent performance, having lost 5 of their last 10, while in their last match, Rijeka recorded a 0-1 loss against Gorica. Sava-Arangel Cestic struck first for Gorica on an own goal in the 73rd minute, and that single goal was all that was necessary as neither team could manage any more scoring In the end, Rijeka couldn’t muster any offence and Gorica ran away with the shutout win. Rijeka is looking for direction having earned 15 points in their last 10 matches.
In their last match together, in Stadion Hnk Rijeka, Rijeka won by a score of 1 to 0. Jorge Obregón scored the first goal for Rijeka in the 82nd minute, and that was all the excitement the two teams could muster In the end, Istra 1961 couldn’t muster any offence and Rijeka ran away with the shutout win.
Both Haris Vučkić and Josip Drmić have been the hottest scorers for Rijeka in the last 5 each having scored 3 goals. Drena Dijon has been the most prolific scorer on Istra 1961 in his last 5 matches with three goals.