Real Betis will face Dinamo Zagreb in an important Europa League match on Thursday at Maksimir Stadium in Croatia. This matchup is crucial for both teams as they navigate the League Phase of the tournament.
Match Preview
As it stands, Real Betis is performing well, sitting in a strong fifth position in the League Phase standings. They have a record of three wins and two draws from five matches. Dinamo Zagreb, however, is in 23rd place, with two wins, one draw, and two losses in their League Phase fixtures.
Dinamo started their Europa League campaign with promising victories against Fenerbahce and Maccabi Tel Aviv. However, they stumbled in their last two matches, losing to Celta Vigo and Lille by a total score of 7-0. They managed to bounce back in domestic play, winning 2-0 against Gorica, followed by a dramatic 1-1 draw against Hajduk Split, with Arber Hoxha scoring a late equalizer.
Current Form
- Dinamo Zagreb Europa League form: W W D L L
- Overall Dinamo Zagreb form: L W W L W D
- Real Betis Europa League form: D W D W W
- Overall Real Betis form: D D W W W L
Dinamo Zagreb aims to secure a spot in the knockout stages for the second time in three seasons. They are currently one point ahead of the 25th placed team, adding pressure to their final three matches, which include this clash against Betis.
Meanwhile, Real Betis seeks to maintain momentum after a recent setback at home, where they lost 5-3 to Barcelona, marking their first game conceding three or more goals this season. Despite this, they have been unbeaten in 11 competitive away matches this season, with five wins and six draws.
Team News
Both teams face injury challenges ahead of the match. Dinamo Zagreb is likely to miss several key players: Moris Valincic, Raul Torrente, Robert Mudrazija, Moreno Zivkovic, Mateo Lisica, and Cardoso Varela will be absent. Additionally, Ismael Bennacer and Ronael Pierre-Gabriel have not made it to the match squad. Noa Mikic’s fitness will be assessed after an injury in their last match.
Real Betis will be without defender Junior Firpo due to a hamstring injury. Hector Bellerin and Isco are also expected to miss the match due to ongoing injury issues. Furthermore, Ricardo Rodriguez will serve a one-match suspension after accumulating yellow cards.
Probable Lineups
| Dinamo Zagreb | Filipovic; Mikic, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlof; Ljubicic, Misic, Zajc; Bakrar, Hoxha, Beljo |
|---|---|
| Real Betis | Valles; Ortiz, Llorente, Natan, Gomez; Altimira, Deossa, Fornals; Antony, Ezzalzouli, Bakambu |
Match Prediction
In summary, the clash between Dinamo Zagreb and Real Betis promises to be an exhilarating encounter. Given Dinamo’s previous loss to a Spanish side and Betis’s strong away record, the prediction leans towards a 2-1 victory for Real Betis.
