Osijek vs Rijeka Prediction: Osijek needs all 3 points

In front of Osijek is a match to be or not to be. The White and Blue simply have no other choice than a win and three points against Rijeka on Sunday in front of their fans, because any other outcome would go directly in favor of Lokomotiva, the only remaining rival in the fight for European positions. An exciting match is expected since both clubs have played quite differently recently and are positioned differently in the league table.

Form: LWWLW

After 34 games, Osijek are now fourth in the league standings with 51 points from 14 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses. In the last five matches, Osijek have achieved three victories against Hajduk Split, Gorica, and Lokomotiva Zagreb. Admittedly, they experienced two defeats, and the last one was 1-0 against Dinamo Zagreb. This hybrid style shows both their inconsistent play and their ability to match up against more formidable opponents when playing on their day. 

Form: DLLLW

With 71 points from 34 games, Rijeka are second with 22 wins, 5 draws, and 7 losses. Although they are on a higher ranking, Rijeka enters this match with a worse result, having lost their last three league matches against Varazdin, Dinamo Zagreb, and Lokomotiva Zagreb. Concerns about their defensive consistency and general form have been raised in light of these losses as they look to maintain their position in the top half of the league. In preparation for the match, Sopic is faced with the enigmas of which players to put in the game, which is between two games of the Cup final against Dinamo. The fact that this league match for Rijeka is absolutely irrelevant, and before the second leg of the final of the Cup against Dinamo tells us that Sopic might use youngsters in this match.

The matches between Osijek and Rijeka were always fierce. In 46 matches, Rijeka won 22 times, Osijek won 12 times, and 12 games ended in a draw. Osijek have a superior score when playing at home. This implies that Osijek could have a slight psychological advantage when playing at home. Predictions point to a very fierce encounter considering the current state of the game for both sides. Osijek's home-field advantage and Rijeka's recent losing streak could be decisive factors in the result. If Osijek manages to take advantage of the support of the home crowd and Rijeka's defensive weakness, they could steal at least a point.