Dinamo Zagreb vs Manchester City 12/12/19

12 December 2019

Dinamo Zagreb need a victory over Manchester City at the Stadion Maksimir and must hope Shakhtar won’t beat Atalanta to progress to the UEFA Champions League (CL) knockout stage.

After a stunning 4-0 home win over Atalanta in the CL curtain-raiser, the hosts have struggled to pick up a win in the subsequent four group outings (D2, L2). While both of their Group C draws saw both teams score at least two goals, both of their defeats have come via the same 2-0 scoreline. Particularly dangerous in the opening stages, the reigning Croatian champions have found the net inside the first 25 minutes in three group games. Far more comfortable at home, Dinamo have lost only once in their last 15 European home fixtures, qualifying included (W10, D4, L1). That’s, however, a sharp contrast to their overall CL group stage record (W5, D7, L2). Moreover, they’ve lost nine of their last 12 meetings against the Premier League sides (W1, D2, L9).

Meanwhile, the visitors have already secured a place in the knockout stage, winning three of five Group C fixtures (W3, D2). While all of City’s group triumphs came via a margin of multiple goals, both of their draws have ended with the identical 1-1 scoreline. The Citizens tend to score fast when on the road, having found the net inside the opening 25 minutes in both of their previous CL trips. However, Pep Guardiola’s men have endured mixed fortunes in their last 20 CL matches (W11, D3, L6), although winning five of their previous nine continental trips (W5, D2, L2). City’s main strength is definitely a devastating attack that has netted 26 goals in the last nine CL outings, also scoring at least once in 12 consecutive competitive matches ahead of this trip.