D. Zagreb vs Monaco prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-01 19:00.
[p]The opening day fortunes of the new UEFA Champions League (UCL) could hardly have been more polarising for Dinamo Zagreb or Monaco, who may as a result come into this matchday two meeting with revised ambitions. The Croatian club unwillingly became the first team in UCL history to concede nine goals in a single match, costing head coach Sergej Jakirović his job as he was dismissed just days later. [/p]
[p]The extended length of this new league phase means Dinamo have more opportunities to refocus and recover over the next seven matchdays, though a couple of booming wins in their last two domestic outings under caretaker manager Sandro Perković suggests they’re regaining confidence. Dinamo have never progressed beyond this phase of a UCL though, in part due to recording no more than one home win in a single group stage, so this fixture will be especially crucial in solidifying a foundation. [/p]
[p]Monaco manager Adi Hütter didn’t even dare dream of the idea of defeating Barcelona at the pre-game press conference, telling the media he “could hardly have dreamed of anything better” than simply playing the Spanish giants at home. They went one better and delivered Hütter a 2-1 win on his UCL proper debut whilst becoming the first club to take points from Barcelona in any competition this season. [/p]
[p]Anything now appears possible, including even a repeat of their last UCL knockout stage appearance back in 2016/17. Encouragingly, Monaco picked up points from three of their four away trips in the Europa League last season (W2, D1, L1) which gives them something to build upon, as does an excellent defensive record of just four goals conceded from their first seven competitive games of this term. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Bruno Petković has scored in three consecutive matches for Dinamo, following up his strike against Bayern with goals in successive league outings. Monaco’s Eliesse Ben Seghir will be hoping to add to his perfect record of seven wins from seven games when he scores for his club, two of which came this season. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Monaco kept a clean sheet in just one of their last 15 European games. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]