- 1 Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht: two matchday-one disappointments meet at Maksimir
- 2 Dinamo Zagreb: plenty of possession in Europe, but the end product went missing in Beer-Sheva
- 3 Anderlecht: a late winner at Cercle, but a back line that’s short of bodies
- 4 Free Europa League Prediction: Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht: two matchday-one disappointments meet at Maksimir 
Neither of these clubs got what they wanted out of matchday one. Dinamo Zagreb came home from Israel with a goalless draw against Hapoel Beer-Sheva, while Anderlecht were beaten 2-1 by Lyon in their own stadium. One point between them after the opening round.
That’s the backdrop to Thursday night at Stadion Maksimir, with kick-off at 21:00 Paris time on matchday two of the Europa League league phase. Both sides would’ve pencilled in more than they’ve got so far, and both know a second slow result would leave them chasing from an early stage.
The weekend didn’t settle much either. Dinamo lost the derby 2-1 to Hajduk Split after leading through Dion Drena Beljo, an own goal from Scott McKenna and a second-half winner from Sanyang turning it around. Anderlecht went the other way, falling behind at Cercle Brugge before Tawfik Bentayeb levelled late and Adriano Bertaccini won it in the 93rd minute.
So one side arrives stung, the other relieved. Neither arrives convinced.
The history between the clubs is short but interesting. They’ve met four times in European competition, Dinamo winning two, drawing one and losing one. The last two meetings came in the 2018-19 Europa League group stage: a 2-0 Dinamo win in Brussels and a 0-0 at Maksimir. Anderlecht, for their part, have never lost in Zagreb, with a win and a draw from two visits.
Here’s the thing worth holding onto. Both teams scored in their most recent competitive outing, and both conceded. The bookmakers can barely split them, with Dinamo around 2.54, the draw at 3.64 and Anderlecht at 2.76. When the market is that tight on the result, it pays to look at how goals are likely to arrive instead.
Dinamo Zagreb: plenty of possession in Europe, but the end product went missing in Beer-Sheva 
A clean sheet on the road in Europe should feel like a decent start. For Dinamo, it didn’t. Mario Kovacevic’s side had the ball for long spells against Hapoel Beer-Sheva and still couldn’t turn it into a single goal, and that 0-0 extended a flat recent run for the club in this competition.
Domestically, the picture is busier. Dinamo won two league games after that trip to Israel before the Hajduk defeat, and across their last five completed matches they’ve scored 10 and conceded 6. That’s not a side short of goals. It’s a side that hasn’t found them when it mattered most.
The derby told its own story. Beljo’s opener showed what they can do when they get runners into the box, but they couldn’t protect the lead, and the second half belonged to Hajduk. Losing a derby from in front makes for uncomfortable reading.
Team news is mixed. Aleks Stojakovic is expected to miss out through injury. Captain Josip Misic sat out the derby through a domestic suspension, but that ban doesn’t apply in Europe, so he should be back in midfield. Luka Stojkovic came off the bench at the weekend after not being ready to start and could be pushed for more minutes.
There’s also a scheduling point to consider. Dinamo have a league game two days after this one, so a degree of rotation wouldn’t be a surprise. At home, though, with the crowd behind them and a first European win on the line, expect them to come forward early and often.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Anderlecht: a late winner at Cercle, but a back line that’s short of bodies 
Two goals down inside 22 minutes. That was Anderlecht’s Europa League opener against Lyon, and although they pulled one back, the damage was done before they’d settled. Vitor Bruno will know a start like that in Zagreb could be just as costly.
The domestic form is better than that result suggests. Over their last five completed matches, Anderlecht have three wins, a draw and a defeat, scoring seven and conceding three. Those aren’t the numbers of a side in trouble.
The win at Cercle Brugge was more about character than control, though. They trailed to Abdoulie Manneh’s first-half goal, struggled to impose themselves for long periods and needed Bentayeb and Bertaccini to rescue it at the very end. Credit where it’s due: they kept going. But a performance like that won’t always be rewarded on the road in Europe.
The bigger worry is at the back. Giulian Biancone is expected to stay sidelined after picking up an injury against Mechelen, and Andrew Omobamidele was a doubt before the weekend and didn’t feature at Cercle. That leaves Bruno reshuffling his central defensive pairing for a trip where Dinamo will push numbers forward. Not ideal timing.
Going forward, there’s enough to hurt anyone. Bentayeb is in form after his late equaliser, and the threat of Bertaccini from the bench gives them a second wave. Can they score at Maksimir? The more relevant question is whether they can stop conceding there.
Probable lineup Dinamo Zagreb: Kotarski; Tabinas, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlof; Zajc, Kravtsov, Kacavenda; Ivanusec, Beljo, Lisica
Probable lineup Anderlecht: Coosemans; Maamar, Petrot, Augustinsson; Winkler, Koutsoupias, Kana, Antman; Bentayeb, Sikan (central defence to be confirmed, with Biancone and Omobamidele doubtful)
Free Europa League Prediction: Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht
Our prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
The result market is close to a coin toss, and that tells you something. Dinamo have home advantage and a decent head-to-head record, Anderlecht have the better recent results and have never lost here. Picking a winner means ignoring half the evidence.
Goals at both ends are easier to justify. Dinamo have scored 10 in their last five completed matches but conceded six, and they let a lead slip in the derby at the weekend. Anderlecht scored and conceded in both of their last two competitive games, and they’ll be patching up a defence without Biancone and probably Omobamidele.
A home side that’ll need to attack, against a visitor with a reshuffled back line and a forward line that can finish late. That points to both nets being disturbed at Maksimir. We’re backing both teams to score.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
About our free predictions
- What we publish on MathOdds are analyses, nothing more. We share a view, a reading of the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport remains what it is: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a last-minute goal, and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as a risk-free bet. Even when it looks “obvious”, nothing ever is. And yes, that means you can lose. It’s even inevitable at some point.
- The smartest approach is to stay reasonable. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Never use money you need to live on. And above all: don’t chase your losses, that rarely ends well.
- A bet should remain a game, not a job or a source of income. If it starts taking up too much space in your daily life, causes stress or frustration, take a break. And if needed, talk to a support organisation: that’s what they’re there for.
- Ultimately, responsibility lies with you. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will never disappear, no matter how good the analysis.
- Essential reminder: gambling is prohibited for minors and must comply with the laws of your country. Need help? Visit begambleaware.org.
No commitment from us
Our predictions carry no contractual value. They have no legal standing. In short: you cannot rely on them to claim anything if a bet doesn’t come through.
Information changes
A prediction is always based on what we know at the time of writing. But between publication and kick-off, a lineup can change, a player picks up an injury, the weather turns, and the analysis can quickly be outdated. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your responsibility
Before placing a bet, simply check that gambling is legal in your country. If it isn’t, that’s your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling
We can’t say it enough: gamble responsibly. If you’re struggling to stay in control, don’t wait to seek help.
Legal age
MathOdds content is intended for adults only. By browsing here, you confirm you meet the legal age requirement for gambling in your jurisdiction.
About visuals
The images and logos of Dinamo Zagreb and Anderlecht on MathOdds are used solely to illustrate our articles. They do not imply any official affiliation with a federation or sports organisation, and we claim no rights over them. Those rights belong to their original owners. If any visual raises a concern, contact us and it will be removed without delay.
Leave a Reply