Dinamo Zagreb V Atalanta
Wednesday 18th September 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: WilliamHill
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13/5 | 23/10 | 23/20 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 16th September 2019 at 12:00)
Preview: All eyes will be on Atalanta, the club from Italy who surprised many with their third-place league finish in the last season. They have been amply rewarded, with the club set to embark on its first group stage campaign in the UEFA Champions League. Awaiting the Italians are Croatians Dinamo Zagreb, the club with a wealth of tournament experience who can also boast a formidable recent record in Europe at their Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb.
UEFA Champions League Betting – 22Bet
Dinamo Zagreb Preview – Croatians to maximise home advantage?
Hugely successful back in their native Croatia, it is in Europe’s premier club competition where Dinamo Zagreb have not only frequently met their match but have too often toiled in such esteemed company. On each of their most recent four group stage appearances, no team has sunk to such depths as to finish below them in the standings, and none more so was this in evidence than in the most recent of those.
Granted it was an incredibly tough set of teams, but 2016/17 was the season Croatia’s most decorated club were drawn alongside Juventus, Lyon and Sevilla. It would not conclude in a memorable manner, succumbing to defeats in every meeting without even managing a goal themselves. However, it should be commended that in the intervening period, the team has made tangible progression – topping a group in the 2018/19 Europa League, without losing no less (W4 D2).
In fact, Zagreb have established a mean record at home in European competition of late, to such an extent that since the beginning of last season only Swiss side Young Boys have beaten them on their own patch (W6 D1 L1). Furthermore, last season saw them negotiate the entire league campaign in Croatia without incurring a single loss at home (W16 D2). The hard part is mirroring that on the continent.
Atalanta Preview – Italians seeking the perfect debut?
These are a lot of people’s idea of potential dark horses. According to the 2018/19 Serie A table, Atalanta are the third best team in the country at this present time, and they are being hotly tipped in some quarters to cause quite a stir on what will be their debut campaign in the UEFA Champions League. Crucially, they qualified automatically through their league position, avoiding the need for any energy-sapping qualifiers.
Clearly adept when it comes to travelling, a big reason behind their successful domestic campaign last season was some sparkling away form (W10 D4 L5 in Serie A last term). Only the two teams that finished further up in the standings than them, Napoli and Juventus, would register more points from away matches than Gian Piero Gasperini’s men. Noboby, however, could come even close to rivalling their goal output – their 41 away goals was seven better than anyone else, achieved at a rate of 1.40 per game.
Football in Italy is still in its infancy as far as the current term is concerned but Atalanta have continued in a similar vein; picking up points on their travels. Sunday’s last-gasp win at Genoa was their second away success of the season (having earlier beaten SPAL 3-2 from a 2-0 losing position) and came courtesy of last season’s leading marksman, Duvan Zapata. The Colombian returned his best-ever figures in 2018-19, scoring 28 goals in all competitions.
Dinamo Zagreb V Atalanta Key Facts:
- Dinamo Zagreb have tasted defeat at home on one occasion in their previous nine European matches (W6 D2 L1).
- Atalanta are making their competition debuts but did produce the best attacking numbers in Serie A away matches in 2018-19 (41 scored from 19 games).
- In their domestic leagues this season, Dinamo Zagreb are currently second in Croatia (W5 D1 L1) while Atalanta find themselves in sixth-place in Italy (W2 D0 L1).
Betting Summary
Their latest showing in a Champions League group stage was forgettable, which is putting it mildly, but Dinamo Zagreb deserve credit for recent performances on the continent, notably when reaching the Round of Sixteen in last season’s Europa League. When including qualifiers, it is only one defeat at home since the beginning of last season (W6 D2 L1). Previous experience of this competition could also count for a lot.
Third in Serie A last season, Atalanta will now compete in a Champions League for the very first time in the club’s history. Their obvious lack of pedigree is a concern, but this team were more than capable of collecting positive results on their travels in the previous league campaign in Italy (W10 D4 L5). Moreover, no team could rival them for explosiveness in front of goal – netting 41 times from their 19 away outings.
Dinamo Zagreb are deserving of respect for stringing together some much improved home form on the continent, and for that reason I am anticipating a lively, competitive encounter. Atalanta have goals in them, away from home especially, but the hosts have only been beaten on the one occasion at home since the beginning of last season. The sensible bet, therefore, would appear to be goals, with both sides expected to contribute to an entertaining affair.
