Dinamo Zagreb prepared for their Champions League clash against Celtic on Tuesday evening with a 1-1 draw at home to Slaven last night…
Winless in their last five
Nenad Bjelica’s side have now only won one match in their last six in all competitions. Winless in their last five, Dinamo Zagreb could disastrously end up fourth in the HNL by the end of this weekend and remarkably out of the European spots in Croatia’s top flight.
Dropped points to Slaven on Friday evening at the Maksimir Stadium allows Hadjuk Split to potentially open up a nine point gap at the top of the table, and with a Champions League qualification place at stake for the title winners, Nenad Bjelica is under huge scrutiny ahead of facing Celtic in three days time.
Bjelica has five wins from 13 matches
Following the sacking of Sergej Jakirovic after a humiliating 9-2 defeat in Zagreb’s Champions League opener against Bayern Munich in Germany, Bjelica has overseen 13 matches in all competitions since arriving as Head Coach in September and has only won five.
Albeit the Croatian champions are sitting in a credible position in the new 36-team Champions League format, domestically, Dinamo Zagreb are underperforming and are in real danger of having a catastrophic season.
Seven in a Row Champions
To put it into perspective, Celtic’s opponents on Tuesday night have won their domestic title for the last seven consecutive seasons.
Prior to 2016/2017, Zagreb had won 11-in-a-row. Therefore, incredibly, they have triumphed in 18 of the last 19 league championships in Croatia’s top-flight.
Meanwhile, in Dinamo Zagreb’s current form, Celtic should be travelling to Croatia realistically aiming to bring some worthy points back to Glasgow.
There is a steel about Brendan Rodgers’ side
Unfamiliar environs on the continent have troubled Hoops’ teams in the previous seasons, but there is a steel about Brendan Rodgers’ side and with a lucrative knockout playoff round tie tantalisingly close, Celtic should fancy their chances.
Stakes are high on Tuesday night in Zagreb
It is 23rd up against 20th in Europe’s elite club competition on Tuesday night. A point would be satisfying heading into the final two matches, but three would settle the nerves for our post-2024 European adventurers — evidence shows it’s time to take the game to an underperforming Dinamo Zagreb side.
Highlights from last night’s match are shown below.
Conor Spence
