NK Slaven Belupo vs HNK Rijeka Prediction

The strongest football case in this fixture points to HNK Rijeka. Their away record over the last 20 games stands at 8 wins, 6 draws and 6 losses, with 1.5 points per game and just 0.9 goals conceded per game. NK Slaven Belupo's home record over the same span is 7 wins, 5 draws and 8 losses, conceding 1.6 goals per game. Rijeka's recent form sharpens the picture: they have won their last two matches, scoring 9 goals and conceding none, and their last five games yield 3 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses. Slaven Belupo, by contrast, lost their most recent fixture (1–2 at Olimpija Ljubljana) and sit at 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in their last five.

The head-to-head at this venue adds weight to the away side. In the two recent meetings at NK Slaven Belupo's ground, Rijeka won one (2–0 on 4 April 2026) and the other was a 1–1 draw (18 October 2025). The wider head-to-head spans 9 years and 44 meetings, with older games diluting current form, so the recent meetings carry more relevance. Rijeka's defensive xG against in their last four games with data is 1.1 per game, while Slaven Belupo's xG against over six games is 1.64 per game, suggesting Rijeka's backline is currently the more solid unit.

The best counter-argument favours Slaven Belupo's home scoring. Their home record shows 1.45 goals scored per game, which is higher than Rijeka's away scoring of 1.25 per game. Their last five matches include a 5–0 cup win and a 2–1 home victory over Lokomotiva Zagreb, and one of the two recent H2H meetings at this ground ended in a draw. Slaven Belupo have also failed to score in only 1 of their last 5 games, meaning they are not without a threat on the counter.

Key Points:

• Rijeka's away record (8W 6D 6L, 0.9 conceded per game) outperforms Slaven Belupo's home record (7W 5D 8L, 1.6 conceded per game)

• Rijeka have won their last two matches, scoring 9 and conceding 0

• Slaven Belupo lost their most recent game and are 2W 1D 2L in their last five

• Both recent H2H meetings at this venue saw Rijeka score; one was a 2–0 win

• Slaven Belupo's home scoring (1.45 per game) edges Rijeka's away scoring (1.25 per game)

The evidence tilts towards HNK Rijeka, but the margin is not large enough for a confident recommendation. The away side's form and record are strong, yet Slaven Belupo do win at home and their recent scoring output keeps the door open. No Bet.