Dinamo Zagreb
- The two early Europa League participants meet in what should be a highly competitive first round opener on Wednesday, when Croatia’s GNK Dinamo Zagreb host Fenerbahçe SK at Stadion Maksimir. This GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs Fenerbahce SK prediction sees both teams aiming to start their campaigns strongly.
- Dinamo are among the Croatian HNL’s leaders, with 13-16 points in early rounds.
- Mario Kovačević’s team are a well-disciplined, possession-based outfit that plays a very structured 4-2-3-1 formation in most of their matches, but the coach injects his own personality into the game by demanding a compact shape that makes the most of their high-energy pressing to transition from defence to attack as quickly as possible.
- Midfielders Dejan Ljubičić and Gonzalo Villar are the main triggers in the transition and the team’s structure while striker Sandro Kulenović is in great form, leading the club's scoring charts and delivering key goals in recent league and cup games.
- With three wins in their last five competitive matches, Dinamo come into this clash on the back of a 6-0 Croatian Cup success - which featured a hat-trick from Monsef Bakrar - and a 2-0 away win at Rijeka.
- However, two defensive lapses have cost them points in a 2-2 draw at Varazdin and a 1-2 home defeat to Gorica, highlighting areas the GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs Fenerbahce SK prediction will consider important for the matchup.
Fenerbahçe SK
- Fenerbahçe SK are also flying high in the Turkish Süper Lig, inside the top-three with 11-12 points after six or seven games. According to the latest GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs Fenerbahce SK preview, both teams come into this match on strong domestic form.
- Domenico Tedesco has installed a more structured form of pressing, flexible formations and a quicker style of play based on transitions since he replaced Mourinho at Fenerbahçe.
- Ederson has transformed the build-up of Fenerbahçe from the goalkeeper position, Marco Asensio, the marquee summer signing, has already got off the mark and Milan Škriniar has been a calm hand in the eye of the storm, providing set-piece dominance and vocal leadership since his arrival.
- Fenerbahçe have won three and drawn two of their last five matches, with back-to-back 3-1 away wins at Kocaelispor and Gençlerbirliği.
- However, their draws with Alanyaspor (2-2) and Kasımpaşa (1-1) show they can be picked apart by good teams and they will need their best game of the season to beat Dinamo on their own patch, as reflected in any comprehensive GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs Fenerbahce SK prediction.
Head-to-Head
Dinamo Zagreb have never lost to Fenerbahce in Europe (W1, D1, L0), beating them 4-1 in Croatia in 2018.
Key Players
- Midfielders Dejan Ljubičić and Gonzalo Villar are the main triggers in the transition and the team’s structure while striker Sandro Kulenović is in great form, leading the club's scoring charts and delivering key goals in recent league and cup games.
- Monsef Bakrar scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 Croatian Cup success.
- Ederson has transformed the build-up of Fenerbahçe from the goalkeeper position.
- Marco Asensio, the marquee summer signing, has already got off the mark.
- Milan Škriniar has been a calm hand in the eye of the storm, providing set-piece dominance and vocal leadership since his arrival.
Betting Insights
- Both teams to score looks a good starting point for this game at -158, given both are strong in attack and have been scoring regularly of late. For those interested, our GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs Fenerbahce SK betting tips highlight this as a likely outcome.
- The weather forecasts predict rain and cool conditions, which may slow the pitch and limit the amount of through-balls and through-passes in which Dinamo thrive.
- Fenerbahçe are a big price at +130 to win this and there is good value in the tie at +260.
Prediction
Our forecast is for the draw, because it should be a very close and fierce opener that may be decided late.
