Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan Prediction - Champions League

The final matches of the Champions League group stages are here and with plenty to play for Matthew O’Regan has his Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan prediction betting preview. The Croatian hosts know that they are out of the Champions League with anything but a win, so expect a ferocious start from them, while AC Milan should qualify in the top eight should they get a point. An intriguing game awaits at the Maksimir Stadium.

Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan Prediction: Back and Forth

Croatia , Champions League, Wednesday , January 29th, 20:00 (UK)

After seven points from four games, Dinamo Zagreb were well versed to become the first Croatian team to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League in 30 years. However, since then they have gained just one point in the next three, putting their progress in serious jeopardy.

Fabio Cannavaro’s side were beaten by Arsenal (3-0) in their last match, leaving them two points outside of the playoff positions heading into the last game. Zagreb also have catching up to do in the league, sitting seven points off leaders Rijeka and five off bitter rivals Hajduk Split. 

Plavi games have certainly not been short of entertainment, scoring a league high 38 and conceding 25 – the most in the top half. Of their ten home games, a league high seven have seen at least three goals, with games at Stadion Maksimir averaging 3.5 goals. 

In the Champions League, Zagreb bounced back from a 9-2 opening round defeat at German juggernauts Bayern Munich by holding Monaco to a 2-2 draw, before beating Salzburg and Slovan Bratislava away (0-2 and 1-4 respectively). A 0-0 draw at home to Celtic was sandwiched in between 0-3 losses to Dortmund (home) and Arsenal (away) meaning they face an upwards battle to qualify. 

AC Milan know a victory guarantees their qualification into the final eight, although a draw should be enough. Rossoneri actually started their campaign with back-to-back defeats, losing 1-3 at home to Liverpool and 1-0 at German champions Bayer Leverkusen in difficult games. Since then, Sergio Conceicao’s side have impressed, defeating Club Brugge (3-1), Real Madrid (1-3), Slovan Bratislava (2-3), FK Crvena Zvezda (2-1) and Girona (1-0) to put themselves in a fantastic chance to qualify. 

In the Champions League, 5/7 of their games have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals land, while 9/12 of their away games domestically have seen at least three goals. With Zagreb needing a win and Milan needing a point, expect the hosts to come out all guns blazing, with the visitors scoring a few on the counter in a high-scoring affair. 

• Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan Prediction: BTTS and over 2.5 goals 
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan Prediction odds via bet365 as at 17:00 , January 27th, 2025. Odds may now differ.

Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups Prediction: Handful of absentees for both sides

Centre midfielder Lukas Kacavenda misses out after picking up his third yellow card of the group stages in the 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. He is joined on the absentee list by legendary striker Bruno Petkovic (muscle injury), veteran French full-back Kevin Theophile-Catherine (Achilles Tendon) and exciting youngster Petar Sucic (foot injury). 

For AC Milan, Davide Calabria is also suspended for picking up his third yellow card in as many starts in the 1-0 win over Girona. Alessandro Florenzi (cruciate ligament), Emerson Royal (thigh) Malick Thiaw (muscle injury) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (hamstring) are also set to be absent. 

Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup:
Nevistic; Ristovski, Mmaee, Torrente, Pierre-Gabriel; Ademi, Bernauer, Rog; Stojkovic, Kulenovic, Baturina

AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Bartesaghi, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Musah, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Leao

Match OPTA Stats

• Dinamo Zagreb have lost all six of their previous meetings with Milan in all competitions, most recently  suffering a 4-0 home defeat in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League group stage.  
• Milan have won each of their six games against Dinamo Zagreb, their longest ever winning run against a  team in European competition; AC have scored at least three goals in each of their three away trips to face  the Croatian side.  
• Dinamo Zagreb are winless in their last five home matches in the UEFA Champions League (D3 L2), only  once suffering a longer run without a home victory in the competition – seven games between October  1999 and December 2012.  
• Following victories over Real Madrid (3-1) and Slovan Bratislava (3-2), Milan will be aiming to win three  consecutive away games in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since September-December  2000 (3), then under Alberto Zaccheroni. 
• Milan have won their final group/league game in each of their previous two UEFA Champions League  campaigns (4-0 v RB Salzburg in 2022-23 and 2-1 v Newcastle in 2023-24), having failed to do so in each  of their six seasons beforehand (D3 L3), dating back to 2009-10. 

Safer Gambling

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub