Vukovar 1991 vs Istra 1961 Prediction

Vukovar 1991 vs Istra 1961 prediction: stats, story, and bets

Saturday, 2026-02-07 (14:00 GMT) brings a fascinating Vukovar 1991 vs Istra 1961 prediction to Vinkovci, where Vukovar continue their top-flight debut season at Stadion HNK Cibalia. It’s a game with two very different pressures: Istra are chasing Europe, while Vukovar are fighting not to drift away at the foot of the table.

Setting the scene: form, table pressure, and a borrowed home

In the standings, Istra 1961 arrive as the season’s surprise package, sitting 3rd on 30 points and playing with the calm of a team that has already exceeded expectations. Vukovar 1991, meanwhile, sit 10th with 15 points, still learning the weekly rhythm of the HNL and paying for small mistakes—most recently in a narrow 2–1 loss to Lokomotiva.

The location matters too. Vukovar’s “home” is about 20km away in Vinkovci while their own facilities are upgraded, and it creates a regional, Slavonia-flavoured crowd. That helps explain why they can look stubborn here, even when the league table says otherwise.

Tactics: low block vs high press, and where the game can turn

Silvijo Čabraja has brought structure since replacing Schildenfeld, often leaning on a resilient 4-2.3-1. Expect Vukovar to defend first, then break quickly through the pace of Jurilj and Gonzalez. The mission is simple: survive Istra’s pressure and give Jakov Puljić something to finish.

Oriol Riera’s Istra are typically more proactive, often pressing in a 4-3-3 and trying to win the ball high. Their midfield control—likely through Stjepan Lončar and Josip Radošević—should tilt possession slightly their way, and the aim will be to feed a confident Smail Prevljak early and often.

Team news that shapes the match

• Vukovar injuries: goalkeeper Antonio Djakovic and forward Josip Spoljaric are out long term.
• Vukovar suspension: midfielder Eniss Shabani is unavailable.
• Vukovar key man: Jakov Puljić (8 league goals) remains the main threat.
• Istra doubt: Jovan Ivanisevic has a collarbone issue.
• Istra key men: Smail Prevljak (9 goals), with support from Emil Frederiksen’s creativity.

Head to head: the table says “away win,” the meetings say “tight”

The head to head angle is hard to ignore. This is their third meeting of the season, and the first two ended 1–1—including the last one on 2025-08-15. Vukovar also grabbed another gritty 1–1 away on 2025-11-01 despite being priced at 6.1. That’s the profile of a team that can suffer, stay alive, and pinch moments.

Istra won’t be spooked, though. They just showed their “giant-killer” credentials themselves by winning away at Hajduk Split on 2026-01-25 at huge odds (6.2), a result that underlines how well their press travels.

Betting odds and what they imply

The betting odds frame Istra as deserved favourites: Home 3.3, Draw 3.4, Away 2.3. The market is basically saying Istra’s quality (squad value €14.50m vs Vukovar’s €7.74m) should tell—yet it still leaves room for the familiar Vukovar resistance we’ve seen in this matchup.

NerdyTips picks: total goals first, then the 1X2 lean

For this Vukovar 1991 vs Istra 1961 prediction, NerdyTips’ most profitable angle is on total goals: Over 1.5 goals at 1.31, trust rating 5.7/10. That fits the match script: Istra create steady pressure, Vukovar counter, and both sides have finishers in Puljić and Prevljak. Even if it starts cagey, one goal can open the second half.

The 1X2 model leans away win (prediction: 2) at 2.3, but with a modest trust of 2.6/10—essentially a cautious nod to Istra’s form rather than a confident statement.

AI match projection snapshot

• Projected score: 1:2 (half-time: 0:1)
• Possession: Vukovar 48% / Istra 52%
• Shots: 11–11, on target: 3–3
• Corners: 7 total (Vukovar 4, Istra 3)
• Cards: Vukovar 1, Istra 2

Put it together and you get a familiar story: Vukovar hanging on, Istra edging territory, and the match likely decided by a couple of clinical moments rather than a flood of chances. For bettors, the safest read is the goals line—over 1.5 total goals—with the away win as the riskier add-on if you believe Istra’s European chase keeps their focus sharp for 90 minutes.