Dinamo Zagreb vs Betis Prediction

🔊 Will Real Betis extend their unbeaten run in this season's Europa League? One of the standout fixtures of the 6th round of La Liga is the clash between Dinamo Zagreb and Betis at the Maksimir Stadium in the Croatian capital. Notably, the Spanish side have yet to taste defeat in this continental competition so far, which should be a daunting prospect for their upcoming opponents. Despite playing away, bookmakers favor the "Heliopolitans," relying on their experience in international competitions.

Head-to-Head

📊 In the 2023/24 Conference League, Betis and Dinamo Zagreb faced off in the Round of 16. The "Blues" edged out the "Green-and-Whites" on Spanish soil with a 1-0 victory, while the encounter in Croatia's capital ended in a 1-1 draw. To be fair, the current Betis side appears far more formidable. 

Dinamo Zagreb Team Overview

🔵 The "Blues" are leading the national championship and are eager to settle the score with Rijeka, who claimed the trophy in last season's tournament. However, the team from Croatia's capital is not known for their remarkable consistency. Over their last seven matches across all competitions, Mario Kovačević's squad has managed only three victories. As for Dinamo Zagreb's performance in the Europa League, it's been a mixed bag. After securing wins against Fenerbahçe (3-1) and Maccabi Tel Aviv (3-1) in the opening rounds, the "Blues" have struggled to find further success.

📌 Last weekend, Dinamo Zagreb faced off against Hajduk Split (1-1), their main rivals in the Croatian title race. Despite enjoying significant territorial advantage, the "Blues" barely salvaged a draw—Arber Hodja equalized in the 12th minute of stoppage time in the second half. Notably, the Albanian forward stands out as one of the team's leaders and is currently their top scorer this season. In their previous Europa League outing, Dinamo Zagreb were defeated by French side Lille (0-4) at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. During that match, the Croatian side's total xG was a mere 0.15, while their opponents generated an xG of 3.19.

Real Betis Team Overview

🟢 Manuel Pellegrini has been at the helm of Betis for several years now. The remarkable work by the Chilean manager is evident, as the Seville club has not only become a strong contender for European qualification spots but also a formidable force on the international stage. Last season, the "Heliopolitans" reached their first-ever European final, falling to Chelsea (1-4) in the decisive match of the Conference League. In this season's Europa League campaign, Betis remain unbeaten with three wins and two draws, underscoring the high ambitions of Manuel Pellegrini's squad.

⚪ Over the weekend, the Seville club was part of an absolute football spectacle, suffering a 3-5 home defeat to Barcelona. To be fair, the "Green-and-Whites" were no pushovers and only narrowly fell short in key statistical areas. The expected goals (xG) ratio stood at 2.83 to 2.52 in favor of "Barça". One of the standout performers for the Seville side was once again Antony, who has contributed decisively in five of his last seven matches across all competitions. In their previous Europa League outing, the "Heliopolitans" secured a win against Utrecht (2-1), solidifying their position within the playoff zone.

Latest news

Dinamo Zagreb

🎤 Immediately after the 1-1 draw with Hajduk, journalists caught up with Dinamo Zagreb's head coach Mario Kovacevic: “I want to congratulate my players on this match, though it's a pity we didn't win. I believe we completely dominated both the first and second halves, and it stayed that way until their goal, when the game was slightly disrupted by substitutions and stoppages. However, we regrouped in the final ten minutes and managed to equalize. We had chances for a second goal but didn't convert them. We deserved much more; football can be unfair at times... It's important to keep going in the same way. I think the derby was exciting. The applause from our fans at the end speaks volumes. They are pleased, but I'm sorry we couldn't reward them with a victory.”

❌ In Dinamo Zagreb's injury list are Moreno Zivkovic (leg injury), Moris Valincic (ankle injury), Raul Torrente (knee injury), and Robert Mudrazija (leg injury). Mateo Lisica and Cardoso Lopez will miss the upcoming match due to illness.

Real Betis

🎤 Manuel Pellegrini attributed their recent 5-3 defeat to Barcelona to several defensive lapses, saying, “We made some serious mistakes at the back. Barcelona’s players capitalized on a free kick with ease. It was an off day for us. You can't afford poor defensive play against Barcelona. And that rather contentious penalty... We were poor defensively, while they were incredibly composed.” The match was significant for two Betis players: Marc Bartra and Ez Abde. Bartra received a commemorative award from the club's management for reaching 200 appearances in the green-and-white jersey, while the Moroccan forward has now made 100 appearances for the Seville side.

❌ Among the unavailable Betis players for the upcoming match are Junior Firpo (leg injury) and Ricardo Rodriguez (suspension). There are also doubts over the participation of Sofyan Amrabat (leg injury), Hector Bellerin (muscle injury), and Isco (leg injury).

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

Goga Kikacheishvili will be the main referee for the upcoming clash between Dinamo Zagreb and Real Betis. It's worth noting that the Georgian referee averages around 5.08 yellow cards per match. Moreover, in 3 of his last 5 games, there have been at least 6 bookings. Considering these factors, our focus is on the following bet – total yellow cards over 3.5.

⚽ Goal Prediction

In 6 of Dinamo Zagreb's last 8 matches, there have been at least 3 goals scored. It's important to highlight the average scoring rates in the current Europa League campaign: the "Blues" average 1.4 goals, while the "Green-and-Whites" average 1.6. Our editorial team anticipates a dynamic game with a significant number of goals. Our pick – total goals over 2.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Neither team is known for earning a high number of corners in this Europa League season: Dinamo Zagreb averages 4.8, while Betis averages 2.8. In head-to-head encounters, there have been approximately 8.5 corner kicks per match. The vertical style of play and cautious defensive approach are likely to influence the match's nature. Our choice – total corners under 10.5.

Interestingly, the "Heliopolitans" don't have the best head-to-head record against Dinamo Zagreb, with the Croatian side never having lost to them. On Thursday, they look to extend this trend further. The "Blues" are quite formidable at home, and there's a strong chance the "Heliopolitans" will face a tough challenge. Our editorial team predicts a final score of 2-2, with the key bet being Dinamo Zagreb not to lose.