Anderlecht vs Dinamo Zagreb Predictions

Anderlecht are the bookmakers’ favourites to take maximum points from their Europa League Group D clash with Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday, though we think there is every chance of an upset at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium this week.

Anderlecht, who have had to endure a topsy-turvy start to their 2018/19 campaign, have plenty of problems to sort out ahead of Thursday’s game. Domestically, the Paars-wit are already nine points off top spot having won just four of their opening nine Belgian First Division A fixtures of the season.

The Belgians are currently in the midst of a horrible run of just one win in seven. That dismal sequence included a 1-0 defeat in their first Europa League Group D game away at Sovakian side Spartak Trnava.

After starting the season in relatively good goal-scoring form, Manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck has watched his team almost completely loose their touch in the final third in recent weeks.

Anderlecht have only managed to hit the net four times in their last seven in all competitions, and their forwards seem to be retreating further and further back into their shells with each new misfiring showcase.

In fact, the Belgians were unable to find a successful route to goal in four of their last five fixtures. With Anderlecht’s self-belief almost fully eroded, the door is open for Dinamo Zagreb to take a positive result at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on Thursday.

The Croatians were extremely impressive in their 4-1 win over Turkish giants Fenerbache on match day one of Europa League Group D last month. That performance and subsequent result was one of many, in what’s been a terrific start to the season for the Modri.

Dinamo Zagreb have lost just one of their seventeen competitive fixtures since the summer – that loss was a narrow 1-2 home defeat to Switzlerand’s Young Boys in a Champions League pre-qualifier.

Dinamo’s 0-0 draw at Hadjuk Split at the weekend in the Croatian top flight was the first time they had failed to score in any game in 2018/19. Really, their Europa League fixture on Thursday is a battle between two clubs at opposite ends of the confidence spectrum.

A run of just one win in seven games has Anderlecht in a rut and we think Dinamo can take advantage of their fragility to leave Belgium with a positive result this week. With that in mind, we recommend you take the Dinamo Double Chance option, which looks brilliant value.

As regular combatants in this competition, it’s interesting to note that Dinamo Zagreb have kept just two clean sheets in their last sixteen Europa League outings. With that defensive record considered, we’re tipping both teams to score on Thursday. To close, our correct score prediction is forecasting a narrow 2-1 win for the visitors.