D. Zagreb vs AC Milan prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-28 20:00.
[p]Halfway through the league phase, Dinamo Zagreb were well placed to become the first Croatian team to reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in 30 years. The Blues picked up seven points from their opening four matches (W2, D1, L1), but a three-game winless run (D1, L2) since in which they’ve failed to score a single goal means they now face an uphill battle to finish in the top-24. [/p]
[p]Fabio Cannavaro’s side were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal in their most recent UCL outing, leaving them two points and places outside of the play-off positions. Any hope of progression therefore depends on ending a five-match winless run on home soil in this competition (D3, L2), with any extension to that streak not only ending their European campaign early, but marking their worst such run in this competition in over a decade.[/p]
[p]That bodes well for opponents AC Milan, who have won each of the previous six H2Hs in UEFA competitions by an aggregate score of 17-3. The Rossoneri will be hoping that run continues, with only victory on matchday six enough to absolutely guarantee a top-eight finish – an achievement itself given that they opened their European campaign with back-to-back defeats.[/p]
[p]Five successive wins followed, and their 1-0 victory over Girona in this competition last week was followed up by a breathless 3-2 comeback success over Parma in Serie A on Sunday. Those results continued an impressive start to new boss Sérgio Conceição’s tenure (W5, D1, L1), with Milan impressively coming from behind to secure four of those five victories.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Consigned to the bench for the vast majority of their 3-0 UCL defeat to Arsenal last week, Marko Pjaca could be in line for a Dinamo recall – he’s lost just four of the last 45 club games he’s scored in (W34, D7), though two of those defeats came this season. Opposite number Christian Pulisic has seen seven of his 11 UCL goals serve as the first or last of the game, including all three this season for Milan.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ten of AC Milan’s last 12 goals have been scored after half-time.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]