Inter Zaprešić and Bjelovar played out a goalless draw in the seventh round of the Second Dutch League on Saturday. The result keeps both sides where they started the match, though the table positions tell different stories. Bjelovar remain top of the division while Inter Zaprešić sit in twelfth place, eight points from the summit.
Inter Zaprešić have not found their rhythm in recent weeks. They lost 3-0 at Dugo Selo on their last outing before that, and the pattern of tight results continues. To be fair, they did beat Varteks Varaždin 2-0 a fortnight ago, but consistency remains elusive for the hosts.
Bjelovar looked like the stronger side on paper. Four wins from seven games puts them comfortably ahead, and their recent form included a 4-0 thrashing of Grobničan Čavle. But they could not break through. By then the match had settled into a cagey affair where neither side trusted their defence enough to push forward.
Our prediction backed the visitors at 53 per cent confidence. It was a reasonable call given Bjelovar's position and the hosts' inconsistency. The draw showed that form does not always translate to results, especially when both teams dig in.
The result leaves Bjelovar with a six-point cushion at the top. Inter Zaprešić stay rooted in the lower half, still searching for the momentum that might lift them out of trouble.
