The Matchday 5 clash in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League group stage between Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) and Borussia Dortmund (Germany) will take place on November 27 at the Maksimir Stadium. Dinamo Zagreb vs. Borussia Dortmund: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Clement Turpin (France)
Matches – 20 (International matches, 2023/24–2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 73;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 45%.
Predicted lineups for Dinamo Zagreb vs. Borussia Dortmund
Dinamo Zagreb (4-2-3-1): Daniel Zagorac – Stefan Ristovski, Kevin Theophile-Catherine, Raul Torrente, Ronael Pierre-Gabriel – Josip Misic, Marko Rog – Marko Pjaca, Martin Baturina, Takuya Ogiwara – Sandro Kulenovic.
Borussia Dortmund (4-5-1): Gregor Kobel – Pascal Gross, Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldemar Anton, Julian Ryerson – Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer, Maximilian Beyer, Julian Brandt, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens – Donyell Malen.
Dinamo Zagreb
Nenad Bjelica's side triumphed over Slovan away (4-1) in the last round. As a result, Dinamo secured their second consecutive Champions League victory and remained unbeaten for the eighth time in their last ten matches in this competition (6 wins, 2 draws). Moreover, the team has achieved three big wins during this stretch. The Croatians have accumulated seven points and climbed to 16th in the standings.
Midfielder Petar Sucic and forward Bruno Petkovic will miss the match due to injuries.
- The club has not lost in regular time in 12 of their last 14 home matches in the Champions League (7 wins, 5 draws).
- At least three goals have been scored in 90 minutes in 8 of the team's last 10 home games in this competition.
- The Croatians have scored at least twice in regular time in their last seven Champions League matches.
Borussia Dortmund
In the last round, Nuri Sahin's side overcame Sturm at home (1-0). As a result, Borussia claimed their sixth win in regular time in their last eight Champions League matches and secured their third victory in this season's tournament. However, for the first time in the group stage, Dortmund scored less than twice. With nine points, the club is seventh in the standings, and with 13 goals scored, they trail only Barcelona (15).
Defender Niklas Sule, along with forwards Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi, will miss the match due to injuries.
- The team has not lost in regular time in 5 of their last 7 away matches in the Champions League (4 wins, 1 draw).
- The club has not scored more than once in 90 minutes in 7 of their last 10 away matches in this competition.
- At least one of the opponents failed to score in regular time in 6 of Dortmund's last 7 Champions League matches.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Borussia Dortmund: Match Prediction
At home, the Croatian club is ready to challenge any opponent, and their home record is impressive for a team not among Europe's elite. In their last 14 home Champions League matches, Dinamo has only lost twice in regular time – with only one defeat by more than one goal.
Borussia rarely manages to win away in the Champions League, let alone convincingly. In their last 14 away matches in this competition, the team has won only five times in 90 minutes, and only on three occasions did they achieve a margin of more than one goal.
In my view, the Croatians, with the support of their fans, can put up a strong fight in this match. My prediction: Dinamo Zagreb with a handicap (+1)
