Varaždin welcomes Lokomotiva in the 34th round of the HNL. A victory for the home team will secure their European qualification spot two rounds before the end of the season.

The team led by coach Nikole Šafarić currently trails Lokomotiva by six points. Varaždin enters the match after two consecutive losses to Dinamo and Hajduk, but the return of captain Oliver Zelenika, Punčec, and Jurić to the lineup offers a boost. Mladenovski is suspended, while Škaričić is out due to surgery.

"We aim to secure our status with a win. The results show that we are doing well, and I believe the public will recognize the importance of the moment," said Šafarić in his pre-match statement.

On the other side, Lokomotiva seeks to break their negative streak. The Zagreb team arrives after a 3-0 loss to Rijeka. Coach Nikica Jelavić cannot count on suspended defenders Marka Pajača and Blaža Bošković, which creates issues in their backline.

"We have prepared for Varaždin and expect a much more aggressive Lokomotiva than in the previous round. We aim for a good result," Jelavić instructed.

A draw or a Lokomotiva victory would keep the fight for fourth place open, while a three-point win for Varaždin would mean a historic return to European competition.

The match can be watched on MAXSport 1 from 6:45 PM local time.