Just like the title of this paragraph, Dinamo has got to go all or nothing from the start of this match, without any hesitation as the stakes are just too high. Dinamo has got an incredible opportunity to play in Europe the following spring for the first time in 40 years. They failed to do that even when they had a great generation with Boban, Suker, and the rest. Most of Dinamo’s players have been hearing stories about this historical chance and this kind of a game since they were very young, and now they’ve got a chance to participate in one. While they’ve been stopped by Arsenal, Newcastle and others in the past years of the group stages, this year, they have the deciding game against Greek PAOK. Dinamo’s squad has strengthened their team by hiring centre-back Tonel from Sporting Lisboa this year, and two great strikers Rukavina from Panathinaikos and Beciraj, who is in great form. The midfield is usually led by Dinamo’s play creator Sammir. But, a big problem for them this Wednesday will be the absence of captain Biscan, and their best centre back Cufre, while another issue is the fact Croatian U21 player Vrsaljko is still limping and the doctors are trying to get him ready in time by Wednesday. So, it could be said Dinamo is pretty-much without the usual defensive lineup, which will be replaced by a few youngsters that are quite talented and the Croatian national team prospects.
Defensive guests
PAOK, a famous Greek club, has got quite a lot of European experience and that is exactly what they’re gonna be using before this visit to Zagreb. PAOK squad is extremely compact and tough, and they will certainly be playing a destructive footie in Zagreb, trying to break down the hosts’ fluent play in the midfield. Their away playing style is based on a narrow and tight midfield that is created to disable the rival’s quick passes and ball flow. They can’t lose the match on Wednesday and will be doing their best in order to prevent that. They’ve got quite a few knowledgeable players such are Misimovic, Vierhinha, Ivic, Salpingidis, Garcia and captain Contreras.
All set for success
The info that I’ve got is that Dinamo has acquired a special cover for the court in order to prevent the pitch from getting wet and enable the perfect playing conditions for this match. For the first time, their charismatic chairman Mamic has spent as much as 150k euros so that every fan at the stadium can receive a winter cap and Dinamo scarf, and as many as 36k people are expected at this ‘historical spectacle’ which is the title given by everybody in Dinamo’s squad. The stadium will surely be crowded as the interest for the tickets is huge in Croatia. The home fans are extremely fired up to welcome their “Orthodox brothers” from Greece, especially because their fans are in great relations with Partizan’s Grobari fans, so the Greeks will be expecting extremely hostile atmosphere this Wednesday at Maksimir stadium. That probably won’t be much of an obstacle for PAOK’s fans, knowing that the Greek players are used to such tough road matches, but the young Dinamo’s players are gonna be playing under such intense atmosphere for the first time and will definitely be flying high, giving a lot more than they objectively can offer. Realistically speaking, Dinamo is a lot better side than PAOK, who is just an average European side on the road, and if they manage to get back at least a tiny bit of the inspiration from the previous matches, Dinamo will finally get a chance to play in Europe in the spring. I expect a tough and close game, but the advantage is on the home side and I don’t think the Greeks will save points here. Good luck!
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (-0.5)
Odd: 1.94
Bookie: 12bet
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