Dinamo Zagreb vs Monaco Prediction: Petkovic to produce

Dinamo Zagreb dare not lose to Monaco when they return to Champions League action at Maksimir Stadion on Wednesday (20:00, live on TNT Sports 8) — a fortnight on from their 9-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, Monaco’s machine-like march this season continued with a 2-1 home win over Montpellier at the weekend and they will attempt to follow up their impressive victory over Barcelona by the same scoreline on matchday one. Read on for my Dinamo Zagreb vs Monaco prediction, as well as the lastest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Dinamo defenders Samy Mmaee and Kevin Theophile-Catherine are unlikely to feature because of thigh and hamstring injuries, ensuring coach Nenad Bjelica sticks with Maxime Bernauer and Raul Torrente at the heart of his back four.

Marko Pjaca is expected to replace Arber Hoxha on the left wing with Arijan Ademi potentially dropping out of the side that thrashed Lokomotiva and Petar Sucic earning a recall to play alongside Josip Misic in midfield.

As for Monaco, coach Adi Hutter is set to revert to the starting XI that beat Barca as Caio Henrique and Aleksandr Golovin make way for Thilo Kehrer and Lamine Camara.

Breel Embolo was preferred over Falorin Balogun in attack with Takumi Minamino, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche operating just behind the Swiss against the Catalan club.

Goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki (ankle) and midfielder Edan Diop (ankle) are Monaco’s only absentees through injury or suspension.

Dinamo Zagreb vs Monaco Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Dinamo Zagreb vs Monaco page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Monaco are the 4/6 favourites to take the three points that would maintain their 100% start to the League phase.

Dinamo Zagreb are 4/1 shots to pull off the upset win, while the draw is available at 3/1.

It's 4/6 for both teams to score and 11/10 for at least one of the teams to keep a clean sheet, while 13/8 is available for over 3.5 goals to be scored in the game.

Bruno Petkovic to score anytime @ 12/5

The early signs point to Croatian international striker Bruno Petkovic flourishing under Bjelica, who brought the best out of him during his first spell in charge of the club.

Petkovic, who registered in Dinamo’s 9-2 dressing down in Bavaria, got on the scoresheet with a magnificent free-kick at the weekend.

The striker has scored six times in his last eight Champions League appearances, including qualifiers, and is a shoo-in to start up front against Monaco, who have failed to keep clean sheets in four of their last five games.

Highest Scoring Half - 2nd Half @ 21/20

The majority of the goals in this clash will probably come after half-time because Dinamo are not known for pressing opponents while Monaco will wait for the spaces to open up in the second half to launch their counter attacks.

It could mean the first 45 minutes is devoid of meaningful goalmouth action.

The second half has been the highest-scoring half in Dinamo’s last four league and Champions League matches.

Even after Bayern had raced into a three-goal lead by the mid-point in Munich, there were nearly three times as many goals in the second half.

Monaco have scored slightly more away goals after half-time, but the difference in their expected goals is much more heavily weighted towards the second half..

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