Ujpest vs Puskas Academy Prediction

Ujpest vs Puskas Academy prediction for goals and points

Ujpest vs Puskas Academy prediction talk is heating up in Budapest as the NB I (Fizz Liga) returns to the Szusza Ferenc Stadion on Saturday, 31 January 2026. Kickoff is 17:30 GMT (18:30 local), and it feels like one of those winter league games where the storylines are almost louder than the stands.

Újpest are stepping into a fresh chapter: club legend Zoltán Szélesi took the manager job on 31 December, with Pál Dárdai arriving as Sporting Director a day later. This is their first home league match with the new leadership, and Szélesi has already made one thing clear: he wants the team to reconnect with the fans and look more organised. Puskás Akadémia, on the other hand, bring the comfort of routine. Zsolt Hornyák has been in charge since 2019 and recently extended to 2027, so the visitors should arrive with a familiar plan and familiar patterns.

Team notes, tactics, and the stories behind the lineups

Újpest (9th on 23 points) opened 2026 with a 1-1 draw against Nyíregyháza, and the early signs point to a more structured shape, usually a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The idea is simple: fewer chaotic moments, more controlled phases, and a defensive base that does not wobble with every long ball.

• Stronati storyline: Czech defender Patrizio Stronati moved from Puskás to Újpest on 17 January and already started last match. Now he faces his old dressing room two weeks later—football timing is rarely subtle.
• Újpest availability: Krisztofer Horváth picked up a knee injury in training and is expected to miss out. Fran Brodic is finally back after a long layoff and was on the bench last weekend. Also out: Kaczvinszki Dominik, Fehér Csanád, and Helmich Pál.
• Puskás availability: Galambos is sidelined for months with a broken foot. Several key players—Roland Szolnoki, Artem Favorov, and Ákos Markgráf—are one booking away from suspension, which can affect tackling intensity.

Puskás (5th on 28 points) started the spring with a frustrating 1-2 home loss to Paks. Hornyák’s 4-3-3 is built to attack, but he admitted they wasted too many chances, and results have looked a bit uneven recently. The “Dárdai Derby” adds spice too: Pál Dárdai watches as Sporting Director while his son Palkó likely starts for Puskás. Family dinners might be tense if this ends 0-0 again.

And yes, the head to head trend is real: Puskás have the historical edge (15 wins to Újpest’s 8), but the last three league meetings were all draws, including 1-1 on 2025-03-09 and another 1-1 on 2024-11-02 when Újpest surprised everyone with big pre-match prices.

Ujpest vs Puskas Academy prediction and betting odds

The market is calling it close: betting odds list a home win at 2.4, draw at 3.75, and away win at 2.9. In other words, this is classic NB I sports betting territory—close enough that one mistake, one set piece, or one early yellow card can tilt the whole night.

What our AI sees in the numbers

Our model leans to goals rather than a clean tactical chess match. The best tip is over 2.5 at odds of 1.7, with a trust rating of 4.8/10 (and a very similar confidence score of 4.9 in our goals projection). The predicted score is 2:1, with 1:0 at half-time—so the script is: Újpest start well, Puskás respond, and we get a lively finish.

• Main bet: Over 2.5 goals (odds 1.7), based on the 2:1 projection and open second-half game state.
• 1X2 lean: Home win (1) at 2.4, but with a modest 3.0/10 trust—so it’s a lean, not a lock.

Stats that support the goals angle

Possession is projected at 58% for Újpest and 42% for Puskás, with shots at 12 vs 10 and on-target efforts at 3 vs 3. That balance is important: even if Újpest control the ball, Puskás still generate enough attempts to help push totals upward. Corners are forecast at 4-3 (7 total), and cards at 1 for Újpest, 2 for Puskás—another hint that the away side may have to stop transitions the hard way.

In short, the safest read for this Ujpest vs Puskas Academy prediction is to follow the goals. The recent head to head says “draw,” the new Újpest era says “energy,” and the numbers say “at least three goals sounds fair.” For sports betting purposes, over 2.5 fits the story and the stats better than trying to guess which side lands the final punch.