Both sides shot more than usual, and neither scored

HNK Gorica and NK Lokomotiva Zagreb drew 0-0 at Stadion Radnik, with more shots than either side usually takes but few of them clear chances.

Gorica had 54% of the ball at Stadion Radnik, well above the 44.6% they usually keep at home. Possession is simply the share of a match a side spends with the ball at its feet, and this was the number that moved furthest from normal. Yet it finished 0-0 against NK Lokomotiva Zagreb, so the extra time on the ball never became a goal.

Shots told a similar story. HNK Gorica took 13, against the 8.8 they average at home, and Lokomotiva took 14, against 9.6 on their travels. A shot is any attempt at goal, but plenty of these never tested the goalkeeper, and Lokomotiva managed just one on target from their 14.

Quality is measured by expected goals, or xG, which gives each shot a value based on how often attempts like it end up in the net. Gorica's total of 0.83 sits almost exactly on their usual 0.81, so their extra shots were ordinary chances rather than better ones. Lokomotiva's 0.76 fell short of their 1.01 away average, and seven of their efforts came from outside the penalty area, where chances are harder to convert.

Lokomotiva's goalkeeper, J. Posavec, was the reason the score stayed level. He made four saves, and his rating of 7.7 was the highest among the players listed for either side. Gorica's keeper had far less to do, which fits a match in which the visitors' best attempts were rarely close to beating him.

Gorica also kept a clean sheet, which is worth more than it looks when you consider their usual record. Lokomotiva's 0.76 expected goals compares with the 1.27 that Gorica typically concede at home, so their back line faced less danger than it normally does. The chances that came were spread across both teams rather than concentrated in one.

Going forward, neither side produced the goals they usually manage. Lokomotiva average 1.4 away from home, and Gorica average 0.7 at home, while the league as a whole averages 3.2 goals a match. J. Pranjić led the players listed for creating chances for team-mates, and L. Vrzić also created chances, but neither could turn them into a goal.

In the table, HNK Gorica have six points from ten matches and NK Lokomotiva Zagreb have ten. Lokomotiva have won just one of their last six, so the draw leaves them unbeaten in this match but still searching for a run.

Player of the matchJ. Posavec4 saves7.7

J. Filipović8 duels won7.3

L. Vrzić2 chances created7.2

R. Josipović1 save7.0