Champions League | League Stage

Nov 27, 2024 at 8pm UK

Stadion Maksimir

Dinamo Zagrebvs.Dortmund

Match preview

Dinamo Zagreb were behind against Slovan Bratislava after just five minutes, but equalised by the 10th minute and were 2-1 up after just half an hour.

It's interesting to note that, despite winning 4-1 on Wednesday, the hosts struggled statistically in the first 45 minutes. Their figure of 0.5 xG was roughly three times less than their opponents' tally of 1.47 xG. However, a strong second-half showing helped steer them to victory.

Nenad Bjelica's team are currently third in their domestic league with 25 points from 14 matches, just four points behind leaders Hajduk Split.

Bjelica's team have only lost one of their last 11 games in all competitions, winning six and drawing four. They've also won four of their last six games.

However, Dinamo Zagreb haven't been able to win their last three home games and have only kept one clean sheet in their last six matches at Stadion Maksimir.

On a more positive note, Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin was able to ease some of the pressure on his job with a 4-0 win against Freiburg last time out on 23 November in the Bundesliga.

Sahin's team got off to a flying start in the 2024-25 season, winning six of their first eight games. However, BVB then lost five of their next nine.

Dortmund are currently placed fifth in the German top flight with 19 points. They have already lost four times in 11 games, but are only one point behind fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who occupy the division's final Champions League qualification spot.

It's worth noting that BVB have won three of their last four games. Their 3-1 loss to Mainz 05 on 9 November was somewhat mitigated by the fact that Emre Can was sent off in the 27th minute when the score was 0-0.

In their match against Sturm Graz on Wednesday, the visitors had 66% of the possession time and almost 2 xG, but only managed to win thanks to Donyell Malen's goal in the 85th minute.

Dortmund's away form is a bit of a concern. They've lost their last six games away from home, conceding 18 times while scoring just six times.

Recent Performance

Dinamo Zagreb Champions League form:WWLDWW

Dinamo Zagreb form (all competitions):WLWWDD

Borussia Dortmund Champions League form:WWLW

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):LLWWLW

Team News

Defensive midfielder Josip Misic had to leave the game on 23 November against Rijeka and it's unlikely he'll play on Wednesday. Fellow midfielder Petar Sucic is scheduled to return at the end of December.

Lukas Kacavenda could be in the middle of the pitch with Maxime Bernauer and Martin Baturina.

Bruno Petkovic and Juan Córdoba won't be available for selection, and Bjelica might field a front three of Dario Spikic, Sandro Kulenović and Marko Pjaca.

The visitors will likely be without attacker Karim Adeyemi, who is nearing a return from a hamstring injury, though striker Serhou Guirassy may make an appearance in some capacity.

If Guirassy doesn't make the starting XI, Julian Brandt, Donyell Malen, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Maximilian Beier could lead Dortmund's offensive line instead.

Midfielder Kjell Watjen and centre-back Niklas Sule are also out because of injury, so we can expect to see Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck in the heart of defence, with a double pivot of Felix Nmecha and Emre Can behind them.

Possible starting lineup

Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup:

Zagorac; Ristovski, Theophile-Catherine, Torrente, Ogiwara; Kacavenda, Bernauer, Baturina; Spikic, Kulenovic, Pjaca

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:

Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Can; Malen, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Beier