Istra 1961 vs Rijeka predictions, May 17, 2026

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In an intriguing matchup in the Croatian HNL, Istra 1961 will host HNK Rijeka on May 17, 2026, at their home ground. Both teams have shown signs of inconsistency in recent outings, with Istra 1961 securing two victories in their last five matches, while Rijeka has mirrored this trend with the same record.

The bookmakers reflect a clear favor towards Rijeka, offering odds of 1.78 for an away win compared to 4.46 for Istra 1961 at home. Our model assigns a probability of 53.8% for an away victory, suggesting that Rijeka’s capability to capitalize on attacking opportunities may outmatch Istra’s defensive resilience.

Tactically, Istra 1961 will need to bolster their defense to counter Rijeka’s offensive threats, particularly in midfield transitions where Rijeka has excelled recently. The home side’s chances of a positive outcome may hinge on a strong performance from their home supporters and strategic execution of set pieces.

Given the analysis of recent form and betting odds, while Istra has its advantages at home, Rijeka enters as the favored side, intensifying the stakes for both teams in this match. Fans can expect a competitive encounter, with the potential for a narrow scoreline, likely favoring the away side.

This preview is generated with the Welcome.Bet AI Insights Engine, combining form data, betting odds, and semantic SEO optimization to deliver relevant match analysis for fans and bettors alike from 2026-05-10T17:52:03+00:00.

Istra 1961 21.5%

Draw 26.8%

Rijeka 51.8%

Prediction (the most likely score): 0:1

Watch and Bet Istra 1961 – Rijeka available at: Bet Now (Full Screen)

Betting Odds

	1	X	2
	4.37	3.49	1.8
	4.35	3.45	1.78
	4.32	3.58	1.78	Watch and Bet
	4.2	3.3	1.8
	4.38	3.5	1.8

Latest Results

10.05.26 NK Osijek – Istra 1961 – 0:1 04.05.26 Istra 1961 – NK Slaven Belupo – 3:1 27.04.26 HNK Gorica – Istra 1961 – 1:0 22.04.26 Istra 1961 – Dinamo Zagreb – 0:2 18.04.26 Istra 1961 – HNK Vukovar 91 – 1:2

08.05.26 HNK Rijeka – HNK Vukovar 91 – 3:0 03.05.26 NK Lokomotiva Zagreb – HNK Rijeka – 0:3 26.04.26 HNK Rijeka – Hajduk Split – 0:0 22.04.26 NK Varaždin – HNK Rijeka – 1:0 18.04.26 Dinamo Zagreb – HNK Rijeka – 2:2

Facts

A mid-table team takes on a leader in this match (ranked 6 and 3 in the zone Promotion ~ Conference League (Qualification: )).

In the last 5 head-to-head matches, Istra 1961 won 2.

Each of the teams is struggling with stability in their game.

Istra 1961 may face physical challenges compared to their opponent, as they have played more matches in recent days.

In this match, Rijeka is the team to beat.

In the last 20 head-to-head matches, Istra 1961 won 4 matches, drew 4 matches, lost 12 matches, and goals 14:36. (average 0.7:1.8).

Including home matches between the teams, Istra 1961 won 1 match, drew 2 matches, lost 6 matches, and goals 8:17. (average 0.9:1.9).

Latest Head To Head

15.03.26 HNK Rijeka – Istra 1961 – 0:2 20.01.26 Istra 1961 – HNK Rijeka – 1:2 27.09.25 HNK Rijeka – Istra 1961 – 0:0 19.04.25 Istra 1961 – HNK Rijeka – 2:0 02.04.25 HNK Rijeka – Istra 1961 – 1:0

Standings

2025/26

		Pl	W	D	L		Diff	Pts
1	Din. Zagreb ✔	34	26	4	4	89:27	62	82
2	Hajduk Split ✔	34	19	7	8	54:32	22	64
3	Rijeka	34	13	10	11	47:36	11	49
4	Varazdin	34	13	9	12	43:46	-3	48
5	Lok. Zagreb	34	10	12	12	39:51	-12	42
6	Istra 1961	34	12	6	16	39:48	-9	42
7	Slaven Belupo	34	10	11	13	45:55	-10	41
8	Gorica	34	10	8	16	38:46	-8	38
9	Osijek	34	7	11	16	25:47	-22	32
10	Vukovar 1991	34	6	10	18	34:65	-31	28

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