Real Betis is set to face Dinamo Zagreb in a crucial Europa League match at the Maksimir Stadium in Croatia on Thursday. Currently, Betis holds the fifth position in the League Phase while Dinamo finds itself languishing in 23rd.
In terms of recent performance, Dinamo has managed to secure two wins, one draw, and two losses from their five League Phase encounters. They began this stage on a positive note with victories against prominent teams like Fenerbahce and Maccabi Tel Aviv, followed by a 1-1 draw in their away fixture against Malmo. However, the momentum quickly faded as they suffered defeats in their last two outings against Celta Vigo and Lille, conceding a staggering seven goals without reply.
Despite the disheartening results in Europe, Dinamo demonstrated resilience in domestic competition, recently earning a 2-0 victory over Gorica in the HNL. They followed this up with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Hajduk Split, when Arber Hoxha scored a last-gasp equalizer in the dying moments of the match. Dinamo’s current ranking gives them a slim one-point cushion over the 25th-ranked team, as they aim to secure a spot in the knockout rounds for the second time in three seasons.
Historically, Dinamo has been strong at home, winning five of their last seven competitive matches at the Maksimir, though they suffered a setback in their only game against a Spanish opponent this season—losing 3-0 to Celta Vigo.
On the other hand, Real Betis is enjoying a decent run in the Europa League, with three wins and two draws from their five matches to date. They opened their League Phase campaign with draws against Nottingham Forest and Genk and celebrated a 2-0 victory over Ludogorets. Their success continued as they secured back-to-back wins over Lyon and Utrecht, the latter being a closely contested match that finished 2-1 with goals from Cucho Hernandez and Abde Ezzalzouli.
Despite experiencing a setback with a heavy 5-3 defeat to Barcelona in La Liga, Betis remains undefeated in their competitive away matches this season, boasting five wins and six draws. The team will be looking to capitalize on their scoring form, having netted two or more goals in seven of their last nine away games.
In terms of team news, Dinamo is expected to miss several key players including Moris Valincic and Raul Torrente, among others. The squad also faces additional challenges with Ismael Bennacer and Ronael Pierre-Gabriel absent from the League Phase roster. Noa Mikic’s fitness is uncertain after sustaining an injury in the recent match against Hajduk Split.
For Betis, defender Junior Firpo suffered a hamstring injury over the weekend, while Hector Bellerin and Isco are unlikely to return in time for the match. Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has left to join the Morocco national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, and full-back Ricardo Rodriguez will be serving a one-match ban.
Predictions for the match lean in favor of Real Betis, with expectations that they will secure a narrow 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb, taking advantage of their strong away form and Dinamo’s recent struggles against Spanish teams.
Both teams will be eager to make their mark in this vital Europa League clash, setting the stage for an intense and crucial encounter in the quest for knockout stage qualification.
