Slaven Belupo vs Lok. Zagreb Prediction

Slaven Belupo vs Lok. Zagreb prediction for Feb 13 (HNL)

The Slaven Belupo vs Lok. Zagreb prediction starts with a simple scene: Friday evening football in Koprivnica, under the lights at Gradski stadion Ivan Kušek Apaš. Kickoff is set for 17:00 GMT (18:00 local time) on 2026-02-13, and it feels like one of those HNL games where the table does the talking—6th vs 7th, 27 points vs 26, and a race for bragging rights that is also a race for position.

Context, form, and why this game feels personal

Slaven (6th) have not been able to turn effort into wins often enough. Their league run reads L-L-D-L-D, with two recent 0–2 losses (Hajduk and Varaždin) that have taken some shine off their season. Still, they reminded everyone they can bite back: on 2026-01-24 they went to Rijeka as big outsiders (win price around 6.0) and came away with a gritty 2–2 draw.

Lokomotiva (7th) arrive with lighter steps. Their form line—W-D-W-W-L—suggests they found rhythm after the winter break, and a 3–0 win over Gorica is the kind of result that makes a coach’s ideas look even smarter. They also carry a recent “we fear nobody” memory: beating Dinamo Zagreb 2–1 on 2025-10-05 at huge odds (7.73).

Tactical story: 4-2-3-1 against 3.4-3

Mario Gregurina’s Slaven often line up in a 4-2-3-1. They’ve been involved in more open games than most this season (frequent overs), but defensive mistakes have made their matches feel like suspense stories with too many twists.

Nikica Jelavić has Lokomotiva in a modern 3.4-3: high pressing, brave wing-backs, and heavy use of the club’s youth pipeline. Interestingly, while Slaven have been a friend of goals, Lokomotiva are often the opposite—one of the league’s most consistent “under” teams. That contrast is a key part of any sports betting plan here.

Team news and players that shape the plot

• Slaven absentees: Ivan Božić, Ljuban Crepulja, Mihail Caimacov, Zvonimir Katalinić (all out). Caimacov is also on 4 yellows and one away from a ban.
• Lokomotiva absentees: Marcel Lorber is the main injury concern. Aleks Stojaković and Cheikh Mbacke Diop are on 4 yellows.
• Key threats: Adriano Jagušić drives Slaven’s attacking output (shots on target, chances created). Marko Pajac’s service from wide areas can decide tight matches. For Lokomotiva, Stojaković (3 goals in 12) is the creative hinge.

One more storyline: Slaven sold forward Ante Šuto on deadline day (Feb 2) to Hibernian, leaving Gregurina to patch the front line. Against a structured 3.4-3, that missing reference point matters.

AI betting tips, stats, and final score prediction

Now for the numbers behind our Slaven Belupo vs Lok. Zagreb prediction. The betting odds in the 1X2 market price Slaven at 2.4, the draw at 3.4, and Lokomotiva at 3.0—basically, “no clear favorite, expect tension.” That fits the table, the styles, and the recent head to head patterns.

What NerdyTips AI expects on the pitch

• Possession: Slaven 47% vs Lokomotiva 53% (Lok to have slightly more control)
• Shots: Slaven 16 vs Lokomotiva 10
• Shots on goal: Slaven 5 vs Lokomotiva 3
• Corners: Slaven 3, Lokomotiva 4 (7 total)
• Yellow cards: Slaven 1, Lokomotiva 2
• Market value: Slaven €6.38m vs Lokomotiva €9.65m (Lok have the pricier squad)

Best bet and market reads (with confidence)

The AI’s best tip is Over 1.5 goals at odds 1.39, confidence 4.5/10. That’s a cautious lean: it respects Lokomotiva’s tendency to keep games tight, but also respects Slaven’s “events happen here” profile and shot volume projection.

For the 1X2, the AI leans to Draw (X) at odds 3.4, confidence 2.0/10—low confidence, but it matches the overall balance: Lokomotiva may see more of the ball, Slaven may create more attempts, and neither side looks built for a clean escape.

Correct score and head to head angle

AI correct score: 1:1, with a 0:0 first half. That also nods to recent head to head signals: Lokomotiva won 2–1 in the last recorded meeting on 2025-08-23, and the broader head to head history tilts their way (more wins overall), but Slaven at home usually make the game uncomfortable.

For sports betting readers who like a simple plan: consider Over 1.5 as the safer route, and treat the draw as a higher-risk add-on—because in this Slaven Belupo vs Lok. Zagreb prediction, the story reads like two teams trading punches, then shaking hands.