Dinamo Zagreb host NEC Nijmegen at Stadion Maksimir on Thursday 22 October, kick-off 5:45pm UK, in the Europa League league stage. It is the meeting of a side yet to concede a goal in the competition and a team that has let in six in two matches.
Dinamo are 14th of 36 on 4 points after a goalless draw away to Be'er Sheva and a 1-0 home win over Anderlecht. NEC sit 27th on 1 point, a heavy defeat at Juventus followed by a 1-1 draw with Levski Sofia. Dinamo are the clear favourites with the bookmakers, and the interest on the night is in how they protect that clean sheet record against a side that has been creating chances.
Dinamo Zagreb come into the game on a good run. They have won three of their last five in all competitions, losing only at Hajduk Split, and they put five past Slaven Koprivnica on Sunday. That 5-1 win in the 1. HNL followed a 1-0 home win over Anderlecht in midweek Europe.
The defensive record stands out. Dinamo have kept a clean sheet in both Europa League games, and their attack is quieter, with one goal in two.
NEC Nijmegen have drawn their last four games. They were held 2-2 by Fortuna on Sunday, 1-1 by Levski Sofia in Europe, and 1-1 at Ajax before that. The one blemish was a 5-0 defeat at Juventus.
That Juventus result explains a goals-against figure of 3 per game in Europe. At the other end NEC average 6 shots on target a game, and half of their European games have seen both teams score.
Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup:
Kotarski; Galesic, McKenna, DomÃnguez, Pérez Vinlöf; Misic, Almena, Stojkovic; IvanuÅ¡ec, Hoxha, Beljo
NEC Nijmegen possible starting lineup:
Crettaz; Brás, Schuurs, Kers, Fonville; Nejašmić, Lebreton, Bischoff; Chery, Linssen, Tadić
Dion Beljo has averaged 1.4 shots on target over his last five and has had at least one in four of them, including four against Slaven Koprivnica. He is 1.20 at bet365 to have a shot on target.
Tjaronn Chery has had a shot on target in four of his last five and three in one of those games. He is 1.50 at bet365 to get one.
Matteo Pérez Vinlöf has committed at least one foul in each of his last five games, and Deveron Fonville has done the same for NEC. Both are 1.33 at Midnite for a foul.
Dinamo Zagreb are the favourites at 1.67 with Ladbrokes, with the draw at 4.20 (Coral) and NEC Nijmegen at 4.75 (bet365). Both teams to score is 1.62 at bet365, and over 1.5 goals is 1.17.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Dinamo Zagreb to win | 1.67 (Ladbrokes) | n/a |
| Draw | 4.20 (Coral) | n/a |
| NEC Nijmegen to win | 4.75 (bet365) | n/a |
| Both teams to score | 1.62 (bet365) | n/a |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.57 (bet365) | n/a |
We expect Dinamo Zagreb to win at home, with the clean sheet record behind them, though NEC's recent games have been draws and a share of the points is possible. A bet builder of Pérez Vinlöf and Fonville for a foul, Chery for a shot on target and Beljo for a shot on target comes to 2.98.