Match for the 1st round of the Europa League’s League Phase at Stadion Maksimir, home of Dinamo Zagreb.
Match Facts
- These two sides met in the 2018-19 Europa League group stage; Dinamo won 4-1 at home, while the return game in Turkey finished 0-0.
- Dinamo’s last two European matches went over 2.5 goals, as did four of their last five overall.
- Three of Dinamo’s last four European home games also ended with over 2.5 goals.
- Fenerbahce’s last two European games finished in the 0-1 goals range, while the two before that were BTTS + Over 2.5.
Betting Tip: GNK Dinamo Zagreb – Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce bring the bigger name and a star-studded squad, but Dinamo Zagreb are notoriously tough to beat in their home stadium, with passionate fans behind them. Both sides approach matches with attacking intent, and the setup points strongly toward goals.
- Prediction: Over 2.5 goals
- Odds: 1.75 (at the time of writing)
GNK Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo finished runners-up in Croatia last season, losing the title to HNK Rijeka on head-to-head tiebreakers, but secured a direct spot in the League Phase of the Europa League. In Europe, they were unfortunate: despite earning 11 points in the Champions League, they finished bottom (25th) of a four-way tie, the only team not to progress.
This year’s domestic league began on August 2, and Dinamo are once again a heavy favourite to reclaim the title. On the bench sits 50-year-old Croatian coach Mario Kovacevic, who favours a 4-2-3-1 system. Off the pitch, club legend Zvonimir Boban has recently taken over as president.
In terms of personnel, the club lost Martin Baturina (attacking midfield, Como) and Petar Susic (defensive midfield, Inter). The standout signing was Ismael Bennacer (defensive midfield, Milan).
Fenerbahce
The Turkish giants began their European journey in Champions League qualifying against Feyenoord. After a 2-1 defeat in Rotterdam, they turned the tie with a 5-2 home victory to reach the playoffs. There, Benfica proved too much: a 0-0 draw in Istanbul was followed by a 1-0 defeat in Lisbon, sending Fenerbahce into the League Phase of the Europa League.
The elimination cost Jose Mourinho his job, with the Portuguese coach dismissed. He has been replaced by Italian coach Domenico Tedesco. Ambitions remain sky-high: the club is openly targeting a deep run, even the trophy itself. Last season, they reached the Round of 16, where they were knocked out by Rangers (1-3, 2-1), having scraped through the League Phase as the final qualifier with 10 points.
Domestically, Fenerbahce couldn’t match champions Galatasaray last season, but as always, they’ve made big summer moves. Key arrivals include Kerem Akturkoglu (winger, Benfica) and Ederson (goalkeeper, Manchester City).
