NK Slaven Belupo vs HNK Vukovar 1991: Prediction, Head-to-Head, Odds & Stats (Fri, 21 Nov '25)

As the excitement builds for the upcoming HNL clash at Gradski stadion Ivan Kušek Apaš in Croatia on Friday, 21 November 2025, both fans and analysts are curious: Who will come out on top in this face-off?

Delving into their past encounters, NK Slaven Belupo seems to have the upper hand, having secured a 2-1 victory as the visiting team when they last clashed with HNK Vukovar 1991 on Saturday, 30 August 2025. In fact, in their sole head-to-head battle, NK Slaven Belupo emerged victorious, leaving HNK Vukovar 1991 winless, and with no matches ending in a stalemate.

Momentum entering this match is intriguing; both squads are coming off 1-1 draws, with NK Slaven Belupo sharing the spoils with NK Lokomotiva Zagreb, while HNK Vukovar 1991 settled for a point against HNK Gorica. In the league standings, NK Slaven Belupo hold the 5th spot, while HNK Vukovar 1991 is sitting in the 9th position. These positions, more than just numbers, reflect their current season form and potential in making an impact in this game.

Key player performance: For HNK Vukovar 1991, L. Banovec’s creative prowess, with his tally of 4 assists, sets up a considerable threat. On the other side, A. Šuto's goal-scoring capabilities, having netted 4 times, are vital for NK Slaven Belupo. Their contributions could be decisive come match day.

When we dive deeper into individual player ratings, NK Slaven Belupo's Ivan Čović stands out with a stellar 7.55, topped by Adriano Jagušić and Karlo Išasegi with 7.33 and 7.1 respectively. Meanwhile, HNK Vukovar 1991 relies on Robin González, Mario Tičinović, and Matej Marković, anchoring the team with ratings of 7.16, 6.94, and 6.9. But will these ratings translate into match-winning performances?

Looking at possession stats, NK Slaven Belupo average 47%, while HNK Vukovar 1991 typically hold onto the ball 40.31% of the time. With such possession dynamics, will NK Slaven Belupo dictate the tempo of the game? As for set-piece scenarios, NK Slaven Belupo averages 3.38 corners per match against HNK Vukovar 1991's 3.77, providing a glimpse into attacking avenues.

Discipline will also be pivotal. Both teams have discernible similarities in this area, with NK Slaven Belupo accumulating 30 yellow and 5 red cards, mirroring HNK Vukovar 1991’s 28 yellow and an identical count of red cards, alongside zero penalty goals conceded. With all these elements in play, can HNK Vukovar 1991 orchestrate an upset?

After weighing the statistics and recent forms, the scales slightly tip in favor of NK Slaven Belupo to edge out a victory.