Borussia Dortmund will be eager to stay inside the top eight of the Champions League as they visit Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
After four games, Dinamo Zagreb occupy a respectable 16th spot in the UEFA Champions League table ahead of the visit of Borussia Dortmund. The Croatian outfit probably had the worst start possible compared to all other teams in the competition, being thrashed 9-2 by Bayern Munich on the opening matchday.
However, they recovered from that terrible result in a big way. They went on to stay unbeaten in the next three games, winning twice. Their other results included a draw against Monaco and wins over Red Bull Salzburg and Slovan Bratislava.
The latter of the wins came on Matchday 4, when Dinamo Zagreb went behind in the game, only for them to return with a roar to take three points. Their current 16th place in the table will be seen as a respectable place, but their credentials will be tested with the ability to stay there or even improve as they host Borussia Dortmund in Zagreb.
As for Borussia Dortmund and Nuri Sahin, they enter a pivotal period in the season, which could either see them rise on all fronts or fall behind. The new manager has overseen a lot of inconsistent performances from his places this season, especially in the UEFA Champions League.
For now, Dortmund are in a good enough position. Their seventh place in the standings does give them an edge and adds to the pressure to stay there. They have had a few surprising displays so far, including a 7-1 thrashing of Celtin and then a 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid, which showcases their inconsistencies in the Champions League.
As they travel to take on Dinamo Zagreb, Sahin will be eager to win and maintain their place inside the top eight. However, there’s big pressure to do so, as they face Bayern Munich next in the Bundesliga. A defeat there would peg them back in a big way in the league, as Dortmund need a big result on Wednesday.
Team News & Tactics
Dinamo Zagreb
The hosts will be without Petar Sucuc, Juan Cordoba, and Bruno Petkovic ahead of this clash with Dortmund. Josip Misic, who was forced off in their league clash at the weekend against Rijeka, is further doubtful, and there are chances he won’t feature on Wednesday.
Hence, manager Nenad Bjelca may have to choose his midfield trio from a group of Arijan Ademi, Maxime Bernauer, Martin Baturina, and Lukas Kacavenda ahead of this clash with Dortmund.
Danijel Zagorac will start between the sticks. In their backline, Kevin Theophile-Catherine and Raul Torrente are set for central roles, while Stefan Ristovski and Takuya Ogiwara will assume the full-back roles on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Zagorac; Ristovski, Theophile-Catherine, Torrente, Ogiwara, Ademi, Bernauer, Baturina; Spikic, Kulenovic, Pjaca
Borussia Dortmund
As for the visitors, Nuri Sahin will come into this clash with Dinamo Zagreb without key attacker Karim Adeyemi, who continues to make progress from a hamstring injury. On the positive side, star striker Serhou Guirassy is expected to make an appearance in some capacity, although he is not likely to start the game.
Maximilian Beier is expected to lead the line for Borussia Dortmund against Dinamo Zagreb. In contrast, Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are expected to feature in the wide areas, and Julian Brandt will assume the No.10 role.
There are further injury issues. as midfielder Kjell Watjen and defender Niklas Sule are also about to miss out with injury. Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck will likely begin in the central defensive roles, while Pascal Gross and Emre Can will feature in the central midfield berths.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Gross, Can; Malen, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Beier
Key Stats
- Dinamo Zagreb have lost their last three home games in all competitions.
- Dinamo Zagreb have won their last two games in the Champions League.
- Borussia Dortmund have won two of their last four games in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have lost their last six games on the road.
Player to Watch
Maximilian Beier
Since his summer move to BVB, Beier has had to play a secondary role in the side as the club refreshed the centre-forward position. The young German international has had to play second fiddle to Serhou Guirassy this season, but he has done a fairly good job in the frontline, with two goals in the league but none so far in the Champions League.
The highly-rated attacker started the last game against Sturm Graz, although playing a wide role rather than his preferred central position. Ahead of this trip to Dinamo Zagreb, Beier could get the nod to lead the line for BVB on Wednesday, as this could be his chance to show Sahin he can be effective in the role in the long run.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb
Both sides come into this clash under pressure to maintain their current position, and a draw would be a bad result for either of them. As for Dinamo Zagreb, despite being on home soil, they have a lesser chance of taking a win, as their most recent form at the venue is evidence of that.
Borussia Dortmund find themselves in a promising top-eight place in the UEFA Champions League standings, and they will want to stay there for the time being. Hence, the Black and Yellows will fight hard to get a win here and at least maintain their position in the expanded table ahead of the next matchday.