D. Zagreb vs Plzen Prediction & Tips
After just two games in their first UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) campaign, Dinamo Zagreb have already experienced highs and lows in the competition after an impressive 5-1 win over Astana, before a shock 2-0 loss to Kosovan side Ballkani. Many would expect the Croats to bounce back from that defeat in this clash, having spent the last two seasons in the group stages of both of UEFA’s top competitions.
The last of those European engagements is part of a poor run of three defeats in four official matches prior to this one by Dinamo. Facing a Czech opponent like Viktoria Plzen could at least calm nerves, with Dinamo being unbeaten at home against such opponents in their history (G3, E2), a record that is accompanied by an 11-game unbeaten streak in their last 13 home matches in European competition (G8, E3).
The visitors fell ten points behind the Czech league leaders after a 3-0 loss at home to Liberec on Saturday, so they will be hoping to get some relief in the UECL, where they lead Group C after a pair of narrow victories. Those wins took Plzen to seven straight UECL victories, including in qualifying, ahead of what will be their third clash against Croatian opposition.
Their previous two meetings against Croatian opposition were precisely against Dinamo, with a 2-1 home win and a 3-0 defeat at this stadium during 2018/19, a season in which Plzen were eliminated from the Europa League. With potential revenge on the agenda, Plzen could at least make the home side work for the result after scoring exactly twice in all but one of their away clashes in all of UECL history (G5, P2).
Players to watch: Dinamo’s Bruno Petkovic has been the Flashscore Man of the Match in two of his last four appearances (three goals, one assist), and he also managed to provide an assist in both games against Sparta Prague earlier in the season. As for Plzen, Tomas Chory has contributed four goals in his last four club-level appearances in Europe (two goals, two assists), with each match ending in victory.
Key stat: Four of Plzen’s last six official matches have featured at least three first-half goals.
D. Zagreb – Plzen FREE TIPS
OVER 2.5 GOALS @ 2.25
