Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Slovan Bratislava and Dinamo Zagreb, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
In their fourth Champions League fixture of the season, Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava are set to host Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb at Stadion Tehelne pole on Tuesday.
The hosts are last in 36th place with no points in the Champions League table and lost 2-0 against Girona in their most recent match in the competition on October 22, while their opponents are in 22nd place with four points after three matchweeks and beat RB Salzburg 2-0 on October 23.
Match preview
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Slovan Bratislava have had a disastrous campaign in Europe’s premier tournament, losing 5-1 against Celtic on September 18 and 4-0 against Manchester City on October 1.
Belasi were somewhat competitive against Girona, but despite only conceding two big chances, they generated no big chances themselves and mustered just 36% possession.
Tuesday’s hosts are currently first in the Slovakian league with 31 points from 12 matches, and are one point clear of second-placed Zilina with a game in hand.
Manager Vladimir Weiss‘s side have won their three most recent games, and while they have lost their three most recent Champions League matches, they did win five and draw three of their last eight fixtures in the competition.
Slovan Bratislava’s defeat against Manchester City was just their first loss at home in the Champions League in their last five attempts, having won the prior four games at Stadion Tehelne pole.
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Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb currently occupy one of the Champions League’s 16 round of 16 playoff spots, and are one point ahead of giants Bayern Munich.
Tuesday’s visitors managed to restrict Pep Lijnders‘s Salzburg to just one big chance, and though the Austrian side were reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Alexander Schlager was sent off in the 66th minute, the Blues were ultimately deserving winners.
Boss Nenad Bjelica will be delighted with the win, especially considering his side began their European campaign with a humiliating 9-2 defeat against Bayern on September 17.
Bjelica’s team are third in the Croatian top flight with 23 points from 12 matches, though they are just four points from first-placed Hajduk Split.
Dinamo Zagreb have won five, drawn two and lost one of their eight most recent games, and have won four and drawn one of their last five away matches.
Slovan Bratislava Champions League form:
Slovan Bratislava form (all competitions):
Dinamo Zagreb Champions League form:
Dinamo Zagreb form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts will be without midfielder Juraj Kucka until the middle of December as a result of a meniscus injury, while forward Robert Mak is not scheduled to return until late November.
Slovan Bratislava could start centre-backs Kenan Bajric, Guram Kashia and Kevin Wimmer in front of goalkeeper Dominik Takac.
Danylo Ignatenko and Kyriakos Savvidis may form a partnership in midfield behind a forward line consisting of Tigran Barseghyan, Marko Tolic and David Strelec.
Dinamo Zagreb will be unable to select striker Bruno Petkovic and goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic for the next few weeks.
Danijel Zagorac may start between the posts, while Sandro Kulenovic is likely to feature up front ahead of attacking midfielder Martin Baturina.
Petar Sucic, Arijan Ademi and Josip Misic are probable candidates to start in a midfield three, with Ademi positioned as the deepest of the trio.
Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:
Takac; Bajric, Kashia, Wimmer; Blackman, Ignatenko, Savvidis, Zuberu; Barseghyan, Tolic; Strelec
Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup:
Zagorac; Theophile-Catherine, Bernauer, Torrente; Ristovski, Sucic, Ademi, Misic, Ogiwara; Baturina, Kulenovic
We say: Slovan Bratislava 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb
Though Dinamo Zagreb are third in their domestic league, they have proven to be resilient in the Champions League after bouncing back from defeat against Bayern.
Slovan Bratislava may score on Tuesday, but given the visitors’ strong away record, it would not be surprising if the hosts lost once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.