D. Zagreb vs Fenerbahce prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-09-23 19:00.
[p]Dinamo Zagreb host Fenerbahçe in this intriguing UEFA Europa League (UEL) league phase opener.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Dinamo’s run of seven consecutive titles ended last season, as the Croatian giants finished as runners-up to Rijeka on head-to-head points, subsequently missing out on UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification as a result. Instead, they will now enter Europe’s secondary competition, and do so on the back of six wins in their first eight games this season (D1, L1), with Mario Kovačević enjoying a positive start to life in the hotseat after his summer appointment. The Blues boast a pretty impressive record in the UEL of late also, having lost just two of their last 19 games at this stage of the competition (W12, D5).[/p]
[p]Fenerbahçe’s failure to secure UCL qualification last month signalled the end for manager José Mourinho, who has since joined Benfica, the club that knocked them out of Europe’s elite competition. Instead, the Turkish Süper Lig heavyweights have dropped down from the UCL qualifiers into the UEL for the third time in the last four campaigns, and former Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco was the special one chosen to fill the vacancy. He remains unbeaten after three games at the helm (W1, D2), but has already seen his side throw away a lead twice, displaying all the signs of a team desperate for a morale-boosting victory. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]The pair’s only previous H2Hs both came during the UEL group stage in 2018/19, with Dinamo coming out on top (W1, D1). However, the Croatians have won just two of their six matches against Turkish opposition in European competition (D2, L2). [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Dinamo’s last eight wins across all competitions were accompanied by a clean sheet.[/p]
[p]Dinamo have led at half-time in six of their eight games across all competitions this term.[/p]
[p]Seven red cards have been shown across Fenerbahçe’s last eight games.[/p]
[p]Just two of Fenerbahçe’s ten games this season have seen them score in both halves.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Sandro Kulenović is yet to start a game for Dinamo this season, but has grabbed five second-half goals in his seven appearances coming off the bench. Fenerbahçe’s Youssef En-Nesyri has scored five goals in his last five games for club and country, with four of those coming prior to half-time.[/p]
[p]Dinamo do not have any fresh injury concerns ahead of this UEL opener. Fenerbahçe also boast a relatively clean bill of health, but remain without loanee Jhon Durán due to a foot injury.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Both of these sides have had plenty of engagement with the officials already this season, so we recommend backing a red card to be shown in either half.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]