Sparta Prague vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction & Match Preview

Steffen Schmidt - August 29, 2023

Sparta Prague vs Dinamo Zagreb
UEFA Europa League Qualification
Date: 31 August 2023, Thursday
Kick-off at 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET
Venue: epet ARENA (Prague).

Sparta Prague host Dinamo Zagreb in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League playoffs on Thursday evening at epet ARENA.

The Croatian outfit completed a great second-half comeback in the first leg played seven days ago at Stadion Maksimir to gain a two-goal advantage ahead of the trip to the Czech Republic.

Both teams have regularly featured in the group stages of European competitions in previous years.

Sparta have been in some sort of decline in Europe of late, losing to Viking at the start of their Conference League qualifying campaign last year.

They also fell to Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round this summer (on penalties) before losing the first leg of this playoffs tie against Dinamo Zagreb 1-3 on the road.

Dinamo made a managerial change after conceding two shocking stoppage-time goals to suffer the UEFA Champions League elimination at the hands of AEK Athens in the third qualifying round.

They appointed former Rijeka manager Sergej Jakirovic who got off to a bright start at the helm with two wins in two tough outings against Sparta Prague and Rijeka.

Dinamo Zagreb played attacking-minded football in these two affairs, netting five goals in total. Knowing how attacking Sparta Prague are this summer as well as the fact that they need to chase a two-goal deficit here, we have reasons to expect a high-scoring encounter on Thursday night in Czech capital.

Sparta Prague vs Dinamo Zagreb Head-to-head

• These two teams met each other in the first round of the UEFA Europa League 15 years ago when Dinamo Zagreb advanced on an away goal rule (3-3 on aggregate) courtesy of a 3-3 stalemate in the reverse game in Prague.
• Sparta and Dinamo have also locked horns in a preseason exhibition last month when they played a 1-1 draw.
• Sparta Prague are chasing their first win in the fifth meeting with Dinamo Zagreb. Each of the last three H2H encounters between these rivals produced goals at both ends.

Sparta Prague vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction

Both teams fancy attacking-minded football and we will take the Over 2.5 goals FT & Both Teams To Score pick as the main betting option at the odds of 2.30.

Alternatively, we will take the 1.80 odds offered for Dinamo Zagreb not to lose knowing they’ve only suffered a single defeat in the last eight games in all competitions. Also, the Croatians are unbeaten in the last five encounters with Sparta Prague.

Sparta Prague vs Dinamo Zagreb Betting Tips

• Over 2.5 goals FT & Both Teams To Score @ 2.30 (13/10)

• Dinamo Zagreb to win or draw @ 1.80 (4/5) odd.

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