Dinamo Zagreb v Benfica Betting Tip Both teams to score – 7 March 2019

Both teams to score in Zagreb

Europa League Tips

CroatiaDinamo Zagreb v BenficaPortugal
Thursday 7th March 1855hrs 
Football – Europe – Europa League
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 42/41 (odds taken 18.10 GMT, Tuesday 5th March)

We have reached the last-16 stage of the Europa League and whilst Benfica are favourites to progress, their hosts on Thursday – Dinamo Zagreb – will also feel it’s an opportunity to progress to the quarter finals, something they have never achieved before.

Europa League Betting at Unibet

Dinamo Zagreb Preview

This is already Dinamo’s best European campaign having made it to the last-16 stage for the first time in their history. Regardless of the competition, the defending Croatian champions have never made it beyond a group stage – something they achieved in resounding finish this time around. Dinamo were demoted into the Europa League following elimination from the Champions League playoffs, narrowly defeated by Young Boys. Placed in what appeared to be a difficult section containing Fenerbahce, Anderlecht and Spartak Trnava, the Zagreb-based club were stunning throughout the group phase, finishing in top spot and qualifying without losing a single game. Indeed, both of their two draw came having already secured their place in the knockout stage. It led to being seeded in the draw and coming up against Czech’s Viktoria Plzen who they dismissed 4-2 on aggregate. The biggest strength of Dinamo Zagreb is their home form and it will be especially important against a Benfica team who are well experienced of playing at this level. It’s now just one defeat in their last 10 Europa League games, stretching back to the 2014/15 season. Dinamo could barely be in better form domestically either and are well on track to retrain their league title, holding a 14 points advantage. They are unbeaten in their last eight domestic matches, keeping five clean sheets in the process.

Key-Facts – Dinamo Zagreb v Benfica

    • Dinamo Zagreb have never reached this stage of a European competition before
    • Benfica are much more experienced and were Europa League finalists twice in the past decade
    • Both teams to score has been a winning bet in eight of Dinamo’s last 10 Europa League home games

 

Benfica Preview

Benfica have reached the final of the Europa League twice in the past decade and there are plenty of pundits predicting that their current group of young stars are capable of going as far once again. The change in coach to Bruno Lage halfway through the season has had the desired effect in both a domestic and European context as Benfica have now surged to the top of the Primera League courtesy of a hugely important 2-1 win away to rivals Porto on Saturday. It may be a gap of just two points but it’s significant that they have been able to not only close on Porto, but surpass them considering their start to the season. Lage’s team head into Thursday’s first leg in Zagreb on a nine match unbeaten run, winning eight of them. Included within that run was their 2-1 win away to Galatasaray in the previous round of the Europa League, seeing out the tie with a goalless draw at home a fortnight ago. There’s plenty of experience throughout the squad but the headlines are being taken up by youngsters like Joao Felix and Gedson Fernandes. It’s likely the duo may not be around at the club for much longer but will be hoping to leave significant legacy before departing.

Dinamo Zagreb v Benfica Betting Advice

With some huge names left in the Europa League this is one of the better draws for both teams despite the vastly different traditions in European competition for Dinamo and Benfica. The hosts are strong at home and when you factor in their terrible record playing in Portugal, a country they have lost all six matches they have contested games in. Benfica showed in the last round, and winning away to Porto at the weekend, just how capable they are on their travels so we can expect them to be going for a positive result on Thursday in Zagreb.

Dinamo are strong at home and they are also prolific. Their last 10 Europa League home games have seen them score 25 goals, however they have managed just to clean sheets in that spell. Benfica like to play on the front foot and that’s obvious from their record of having scored 13 of their last 15 away matches. Dinamo know a result at home is important if they are to progress from this tie so will look to take the game to their opponent and with Benfica extremely dangerous on the counter, this looks to be a game where both teams find the net.