HNK Gorica vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction 01.12.2025 | SuperSport HNL

Last season served as a harsh lesson for HNK Gorica, highlighting the need to wake up and elevate their performance if they wished to avoid nervously fighting for top-flight survival until the final rounds. The Turopolje side ended as the second-worst team in the league, seven points clear of relegated Šibenik.

So far, the 2025-26 campaign suggests that Gorica have responded positively, showing clear signs of improvement. They currently sit on 18 points — six more than they had at the same stage last season — reflecting a much stronger start.

Mario Carević’s side now faces a stern test in the form of a powerful Dinamo Zagreb outfit, but they approach it with confidence and momentum. Their most recent outing, a 1-0 victory over Istra 1961, extended their solid unbeaten streak to three matches (W2 D1).

The absence of Iker Pozo will certainly be felt. The midfielder has been in excellent form, contributing two goals and two assists in his last five appearances, but a yellow card in the previous match pushed him over the booking limit, meaning he must serve a one-match suspension.

Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb are determined to bounce back quickly after having their seven-year domestic dominance ended last season, losing the title to HNK Rijeka due to an inferior head-to-head record, despite both sides finishing level on points.

Even though they have stumbled with four defeats in their opening 14 fixtures, the Blues remain strong contenders for the championship. A victory here would allow them to reclaim the top spot and create a one-point cushion over current leaders Hajduk, who were held to a 1-1 draw against Varaždin.

However, Mario Kovačević and his squad head to Velika Gorica lacking confidence, struggling to translate their home form to away games. They are currently in a concerning run of three consecutive road defeats, all against lower-half opponents Istra, Vukovar, and Lokomotiva.

Summer signing Ismael Bennacer is expected to return for Monday’s clash after missing Dinamo’s European encounter with LOSC Lille, while Moris Valinčić and Raul Torrente remain sidelined in the treatment room.