Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Champions League match
Qarabağ’s aggressive attack, which dismantled Ludogorets' defence in the return leg (7-2 after extra time), might pose a threat to Dinamo Zagreb. On the other hand, the Croatian side has always performed confidently on the international stage, especially with the start of this campaign hinting at a strong showing in the UEFA Champions League.
Dinamo Zagreb
Thanks to their strong results in previous seasons, Dinamo skipped the earlier rounds of UCL qualifying, heading straight to the playoffs. They approached it off the back of three wins in the league with an aggregate score of 10-1. The team operates with an attacking 3-5-2 formation, and forward Sandro Kulenović is leading the scoring charts with 3 goals. Also drawing attention is their most expensive player, Martin Baturina (€20 million), who has provided three assists.
Qarabağ
Qarabağ might not be considered a serious contender for Dinamo if not for their extensive experience in the previous qualifying rounds. The Azerbaijani club netted 15 goals over four qualification matches, with the duo of Juninho and Naim Benzia creating 9 + 2. In August, Qarabağ scored 15 goals in four games, showing they are ready to compete with Dinamo Zagreb in attacking play.
Dinamo Zagreb - Qarabağ Prediction
In Zagreb, the Dinamo players will aim to build a lead over Qarabağ, but the favourites are likely to concede goals to the underdogs. We'll see goals scored by both sides in this intriguing Champions League qualifier.