AEK Athens vs GNK Dinamo Zagreb Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 06/08/2023, 14:45  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 06/08/2023 at 14:45 in Champions League Predictions

AEK Athens will face Dinamo Zagreb at OPAP Arena in the first leg of the third qualifying round in the Champions League on Tuesday. The hosts will be entering the competition in this round, having won the Super League 1 last season. They ended the regular season two points behind Panathinaikos but managed to overturn the gap in the playoff round to eventually end five points clear and earn the title for the first time since the 2018-19 season. The hosts recorded 26 wins, five draws, and five losses in their 36-match season and were unbeaten in their last ten home matches, with seven wins and three draws. The last time they were beaten on home soil was in March this year. They looked particularly good in the preseason, scoring three or more goals in each of their last four fixtures, including a 5-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. The hosts are the bookmaker's favourite to win this opening leg. 

Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb come into this round after cruising past 2022 Kazakh league champions Astana 6-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round. The visitors took a commanding 4-0 lead in the first leg on home soil and finished off the job a week later with a 2-0 win on the road. Perennial winners Dinamo Zagreb retained their 1. HNL title for a sixth consecutive season last term, finishing on 81 points and ten clear of Jajduk Split in second place. They record 24 wins, nine draws, and three losses. Their only loss at home last season came in their penultimate match, by which point they had already secured the league title. However, this season began with a loss in their first league match, followed by a win and a draw in the next two, leaving them fourth in the standings. Still, they have kept four consecutive clean sheets in league and cup competition coming into this match and will be extremely satisfied if they can manage another shoutout in this one, though it may be unlikely against this opponent.