Dinamo Zagreb vs Qarabag Prediction: Hosts should take charge of playoff tie

Dinamo Zagreb come into this season's Champions League qualifying competition at the playoff stage and the first leg of their tie with Qarabag takes place at Stadion Maksimir in Croatia's capital on Tuesday (20:00).

Qarabag will be hoping to build on their entertaining victories over Lincoln Red Imps and Ludogorets in the previous two qualifying rounds. Can they do so? Here's my Dinamo Zagreb vs Qarabag predictions.

Dinamo Zagreb vs Qarabag Odds

Dinamo Zagreb are 4/5 to beat 3/1 visitors Qarabag and the draw is 13/5. In-form Qarabag striker Juninho is rated as the biggest threat to the home defence and he is 7/1 to be first goalscorer and 23/10 to score at anytime.

Team News

Dinamo Zagreb are unlikely to make many changes to the side who beat Sibenik 3-0 in the Croatian league on Saturday so forwards Bruno Petkovic and Sandro Kulenovic should start for the hosts.

Patrick Andrade is likely to come into midfield for Qarabag after scoring twice as a substitute in their second-leg win over Ludogorets.

Dinamo Zagreb to win (90 minutes) @ 4/5

Dinamo Zagreb only need to clear one hurdle in Champions League qualifying, having received a bye into the playoff stage of the competition. They will be taking nothing for granted against opponents Qarabag of Azerbaijan but should be in good heart after winning their first three matches in the Croatian league.

Dinamo have produced a couple of commanding home performances, thumping Istra 1961 5-0 and Sibenik 3-0, and their classy forwards can power them to a first-leg win.

Qarabag cruised past Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps 7-0 on aggregate in their first qualifying tie but they suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Ludogorets in the previous round.

They were in trouble in the return fixture, trailing 2-1 late in the first half before roaring back to win 7-2 after extra-time, but they could be outclassed on their trip to Zagreb.

Bet Builder - Both teams to score, Bruno Petkovic & Sandro Kulenovic to score anytime @ 7/1

While Dinamo Zagreb are expected to take a first-leg lead at home, their visitors have scored 15 goals in four Champions League qualifying ties this season. That suggests including both teams to score as one leg of the #PickYourPunt and it may also pay to focus on a couple of Dinamo forwards in the anytime-goalscorer market.

Qarabag looked leaky against Ludogorets in the previous round and striker Bruno Petkovic, who has scored 11 goals in 40 caps for Croatia, should trouble the visiting defence.

Petkovic's teammate Sandro Kulenovic has started the new club season in terrific form, scoring three goals in his first two home league appearances. He also found the net in his last two outings in 2023-24 so he could have a big role to play as the Croatian champions aim to reach the new-look Champions League proper.

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