Recap
Istra faced an extremely demanding schedule during the opening six rounds of the season, yet they have produced several highly encouraging performances. Four of their first six fixtures came against strong teams, including Dinamo Zagreb (2-2), Hajduk (2-2), Rijeka and Varaždin (0-0). Despite the difficulty of the schedule, Istra competed well in these matches and, in my opinion, deserved considerable credit for their performances.
Rudeš look like the weakest side in the HNL and, in my view, are the leading candidates for relegation. They have suffered defeats in five of their opening six matches, while their task today is further complicated by the absence of forward Vukić (3/1).
This looks like an ideal opportunity for Istra to turn their encouraging performances into a much-needed victory. They should have a significant advantage in terms of quality and current momentum, while their recent h2h record provides another reason for optimism, with Istra winning the last four meetings between the sides.