The next white waistcoat at the Modri?
GNK Dinamo Zagreb dispatched FC Astana 4-0 last week. The Modri thus remained without conceding a goal in their third competitive match against the Kazakhs and are already all but assured of a place in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League, where AEK Athens awaits.
Even a defeat in Kazakhstan with a three-goal difference would be enough for the Croats. In any case, Astana’s betting on Dinamo Zagreb to win the second leg is much more likely.
The Croatians already defeated the Kazakh champions in the 2018/19 Champions League qualifiers, winning both in Zagreb and Astana. The prediction for Astana against Dinamo Zagreb is that the Modri will once again record a commanding victory without conceding a goal. Given the 4-0 deficit, the Kazakhs are not expected to put up much of a fight anyway
All in all, things have not gone well for FC Astana of late. The Kazakhs followed up their 4-0 first leg defeat at Dinamo Zagreb with a 1-0 league defeat to Kyzylzhar at the weekend, leaving the reigning champions three points behind leaders Ordabasy. Overall, Astana have won just one of their last six competitive matches (two draws, three defeats) and have failed to score in four of those six games.
Consequently, we are betting on the Modri to record another nil win in this away match and move into the 3rd qualifying round with confidence. Those who find this bet too risky can consider using a free bet to place their bets.
Astana – Statistics & current form
FC Astana secured the national championship in Kazakhstan for the seventh time in the club’s history last autumn and also qualified for the Champions League qualifiers. On their debut in the 2015/16 season, the Sary-Kökter (the Yellow-Blue) beat all opponents and reached the group stage of the top flight for the first and so far only time.
Since then, the capital, who once reached the Europa League’s sixteenth-finals in 2017/18, have been waiting for another chance in the Champions League group stage. However, after losing 4-0 in the first leg in Zagreb, they are likely to continue only in the Europa League qualifiers this year.
Won only one of last six competitive matches
Whether the Sary-Kökter will be allowed to compete in the Champions League qualifiers again in a year’s time, meanwhile, will be decided in Kazakhstan’s national league in the coming months. After 18 league games, the capital is currently only second, three points behind Ordabasy.
The current mood is therefore slightly tense, as coach Grigoriy Babayan’s side have won just one of their last six competitive matches (two draws, three defeats). Consequently, the odds are clearly against the Kazakhs in Astana against Dinamo Zagreb.
Netless in four of last six competitive matches
Most strikingly, FC Astana have failed to score in four of their last six competitive matches. The only two exceptions were the goals in the 1-1 draw with Dinamo Tbilisi from the first leg of the Champions League 1st qualifying round, which the Sary-Kekers followed up with two more goals in the 2-1 away win in the return leg in Georgia.
With an important home match against Okzhetpes in the national league on Saturday, where only victory counts, we do not expect Babayan’s side to show any more resilience in this hopeless second leg against the Croats. There is a lot to be said for a quiet farewell for the capitals from this year’s Champions League qualifiers.
Predicted line-up of Astana:
Condric – Vorogovskiy – Amanovic – Tomasevic – Marochkin – Hovhannisyan – Ourega – Ebong – Beysebekov – Tomasov – Darboe
Dinamo Zagreb – Statistics & current form
GNK Dinamo Zagreb are one of Croatia’s flagship teams, having won 24 national championships and 16 cups. The Modri (in German: die Blauen) also lead the eternal table of the highest Croatian division and even won the exhibition cup once in 1967.
However, the capital club started the 2023/24 season with a setback. After beating long-term rivals Hajduk Split 1-0 in the Super Cup, they lost their league match against the same opponents 2-1 at home on the first day of the season.
Solid 3:0 win in Istra in dress rehearsal
Earlier in the weekend, however, the Purgeri managed a 3-0 away win at Istra on the second matchday in Croatia’s top division, which allowed them to correct the table somewhat. Consequently, there is no need to speak of a false start.
In fact, coach Igor Biscan’s team not only won three of their four competitive matches in the 2023/24 season (one defeat), but also conceded no goals in all three victories. There is therefore a lot to be said for Astana against Dinamo Zagreb, with bets on the Modri to win the next match to nil.
Won all three compulsory games against Astana to nil
Finally, the Croatians prevailed against FC Astana back in the 2018/19 Champions League qualifiers with a commanding 3-0 win in both the first and second legs. The Purgeri’s overall record against the Kazakhs is absolutely flawless, with three wins from three games and 7:0 goals.
So it’s quite possible that Igor Biscan might even spare one or two key players for Saturday’s league match against Gorica. There is also enough quality across the board behind stars like Luka Ivanusec, who contributed three goals on his own in the first leg, to not only defend the four-goal lead in Kazakhstan, but perhaps even extend it further.
Predicted Dinamo Zagreb line-up:
Livakovic – Ljubicic – Sutalo – Ristovski – Moharrami – Misic – Ivanusec – Baturina – Bulat – Spikic – Petkovic
Astana – Dinamo Zagreb Direct comparison / H2H-balance
Head to head: 0 – 0 – 3
There have been a total of three competitive matches between the two teams so far, and in three victories Dinamo Zagreb have had nothing to burn against their Kazakh opponents. The Croatians won all three duels without conceding a goal and are already all but assured of a place in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League after the 4-0 home win from the first leg on 25 July 2023.
Astana – Dinamo Zagreb Tip
Absolutely clear prediction for Astana against Dinamo Zagreb is for the Croatians to progress, who already won the first leg on home soil with a commanding 4-0 victory. The Modri also managed a 2:0 away win in their only guest game in Astana so far. Dinamo Zagreb have now won all three of their competitive matches against the Kazakh champions, with a total of 7-0 goals.
With the Kazakhs having won just one of their last six competitive matches (two draws, three defeats) and having gone without a goal of their own in four of those six games, the greatest value can be found in betting on the Modri to win this second leg next time out.
