**Varaždin's hunting for rhythm while Maribor's stuck in the draw rut** — this friendly is all about momentum before the winter window closes. 🔥

Varaždin's been spiky lately with **three wins in five**, including a solid road result against Aluminij. Maribor, though, look sluggish — **just one win but four draws** in their last stretch, and that's a pattern that screams inconsistency.

Key storylines:

- **NK Varaždin** need to build on their attacking form after the 3-2 win over Jablonec and test Maribor's flat backline
- **NK Maribor** are stuck drawing everything; a friendly is the perfect stage to finally break through and get a decisive result
- Expect Varaždin's recent confidence to clash with Maribor's stalemate curse

Expected lineups:

- **NK Varaždin**: Malnar, Horvat, Bedek, Horvat, Sakota, Ademovic, Muric, Crnila, Stermecki, Cvetko, Kulenovic
- **NK Maribor**: Handanovic, Pirić, Šved, Bohar, Milec, Horvat, Novak, Bergant, Lovrić, Kotnik, Iličević

Prediction:

**Varaždin 2–1 Maribor** — the hosts' recent sharpness gives them the edge in a friendly where Maribor's drawn tendencies finally snap. 💪