Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham betting tips: Irons visit Croatian champs
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Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham betting tips and odds
West Ham are in the group stage of European competition for the first time and kick off their campaign in Croatia as 23/20 favourites to beat Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday.
The Hammers’ goalless draw with Southampton at the weekend was the start of seven games in 23 days.
With Michail Antonio being sent off at St Mary’s, the striker could start as he will be suspended for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United – the team they face in the Carabao Cup three days later.
The Croatian champions enjoyed success against London side Tottenham in this competition last season, so let’s look at some of the markets and odds in our Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham betting tips.
Match Odds
West Ham maintained their unbeaten record in the Premier League on Saturday but were slightly fortunate to come away with a point.
Manager David Moyes said: “I actually thought we played some really good football in the first half but the forward areas didn’t produce, didn’t connect, it looked like they had all been away (on international duty).”
They will need to improve against Zagreb who have had a very busy start to the season, playing four two-legged Champions League qualifiers only to fall at the final hurdle against Moldovan minnows FC Sheriff and they top their domestic league on goal difference after five wins from seven games.
Our #UEL prep continues 💪 pic.twitter.com/1hudepzGdY
— West Ham United (@WestHam) September 14, 2021
Zagreb reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season, famously overcoming a 2-0 first-leg defeat at Tottenham by winning the return 3-0 courtesy of a Mislav Orsic hat-trick after which then Spurs boss Jose Mourinho accused his players of “lacking the basics of life”.
The hosts are 11/5 to win, 12/5 to draw and with at least one team not scoring in 12 of the hosts’ last 14 matches, we go 23/20 on a repeat of that scenario in our Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham betting tips.
The Hammers are 29/10 to win to nil and the home team are 19/4 in the same market while under 2.5 goals can be backed at 10/11 bearing in mind that would have paid out in seven of Zagreb’s last eight matches.
Talking Tactics
Moyes failed to land an understudy to player of the month Antonio, which may come back to haunt him later in the season, but the in-form striker could lead the line once again in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
If @tomassoucek28 is smiling, then we're smiling 😄 pic.twitter.com/S6Ubyq9Mb0
— West Ham United (@WestHam) September 13, 2021
Interestingly, Moyes has named the same starting XI for the first four Premier League games but he is likely to make changes such as giving a starting place to Nikola Vlasic, who used to play for Zagreb’s bitter rivals Hajduk Split.
Zagreb have not conceded a goal in their last four games and are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 in which Croatia striker Bruno Petkovic starts up front alongside Australian Deni Juric.
Goalscorer Odds
Antonio has scored four goals in as many games and is the 9/2 favourite to grab the game’s first goal or 7/4 to score at any time but Vlasic is 7/1 and 11/4 in the same markets.
Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals have both netted twice this season and are 16/5 and 4/1 to get on the scoresheet.
Winger Orsic, who scored six goals in the Europa League last season, missed their game at the weekend but is 11/2 joint favourite with Petkovic to break the deadlock or 11/5 to find the net.
Juric is 6/1 and 12/5 in the two markets as the last of our Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham betting tips.
Match Info
Where: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
When: 17:45, Thursday 16th September
How to watch: BT Sport
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
