MX23RW : Tuesday, December 8 18:11:02| >> :120:18973:18973:
Dec 10, 2020 at 8pm UK at Stadion Maksimir
Dinamo ZagrebDinamo Zagreb
vs.
CSKACSKA Moscow

Preview: Dinamo Zagreb vs. CSKA Moscow - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Dinamo Zagreb and CSKA Moscow, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Dinamo Zagreb square off against CSKA Moscow on Thursday evening with their place in the Europa League knockout stages having already been secured.

Meanwhile, the visitors make the trip to Croatia with just three points from five matches, a record which has resulted in their early elimination from the competition.


Match preview

Dinamo Zagreb manager Zoran Mamic pictured in October 2020© Reuters

In a group involving four evenly-matched clubs, few people would have expected any team to come through unbeaten, never mind having kept five clean sheets in succession.

However, Dinamo are on the verge of a rare achievement at this level of European football having already avoided conceding a goal for 450 minutes, recording three wins and two draws in the process.

Despite having the opportunity to take the foot off the gas, Zoran Mamic will want his players to extend their shutout record ahead of their appearance in the last 32.

Mamic will also want to see more goals from a side which has netted just six times in five matches, all but one of those strikes coming in their last two outings on the continent.

Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic have netted two goals apiece, and the contributions of the duo will be pivotal when it comes to progressing further in this competition.

While Dinamo are very much a team on the up, the same cannot be said of CSKA Moscow who would have expected to finish at the top of Group K.

Despite sitting in third spot in Russia's top flight, CSKA have gone five games without success in this competition, leaving them aiming for the consolation of third position.

Viktor Goncharenko, who is in his fifth campaign at the club, knows that he is now under increasing pressure to win the league title for the first time during his reign.

With that in mind, the 43-year-old will view this contest as an opportunity to assess the character of his players with their last win in any competition coming on November 8.

Dinamo Zagreb Europa League form: DDWWW
Dinamo Zagreb form (all competitions): WWLWWW

CSKA Moscow Europa League form: DDLDL
CSKA Moscow form (all competitions): WDDLLD


Team News

CSKA Moscow manager Viktor Goncharenko pictured on April 12, 2018© Reuters

Goncharenko could hand a rest to Nikola Vlasic, despite the Croatian playmaker returning to his homeland.

Veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev may also drop out of the side, handing a debut to 17-year-old Vladislav Torop.

Mario Gavranovic is in line to take the place of Dinamo forward Petkovic, who misses this game through a one-match ban.

More alterations are expected in the final third with Bartol Franjic and Mislav Orsic likely to be handed opportunities.

Welsh youngster Robbie Burton, formerly of Arsenal, could be given his first start in the competition.

Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Moharrami, Lauritsen, Theophile-Catherine, Gvardiol; Burton, Jakic; Tolic, Franjic, Orsic; Gavranovic

CSKA Moscow possible starting lineup:
Torop; Maradishvili, Diveev, Magnusson, Schennikov; Oblaykov, Akhmetov; Kuchaev, Sigurdsson, Zainutdinov; Chalov


SM words green background

We say: Dinamo Zagreb 1-1 CSKA Moscow

Neither manager will play a full-strength side on Thursday evening, and that could lead to an uneventful draw being played out in Croatia. Nevertheless, CSKA will be motivated to end Dinamo's run of clean sheets in this competition.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


ID:425599:cQx

Who will win Thursday's Europa League clash between Dinamo Zagreb and CSKA?

Dinamo Zagreb
Draw
CSKA Moscow
Dinamo Zagreb
41.7%
Draw
45.8%
CSKA Moscow
12.5%
24
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2Spartak Moscow17105232171535
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15FC TambovTambov1633101226-1412
16Rotor VolgogradRotor171511730-238

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