Manchester City vs Dinamo Zagreb Preview: Match preview, Player to watch out for, Betting tips and more | Champions League 2019/20
Manchester City host Dinamo Zagreb in a Champions League fixture at the Etihad stadium on Tuesday.
The Cityzens have started the 2019-20 season in imperious form and look destined to challenge on all fronts. Apart from a shock defeat to Norwich and a draw against Tottenham Hotspurs, the Sky Blues have swept aside every team that has come their way, making the net ripple 33 times in nine games in the process.
A combination of late goals, unexpected drama and of course, the VAR stopped City’s Champions League bid last term. One wouldn't be wrong to assume that they might just be seething from everything that went down on that evening at the Etihad, months ago.
The visitors, on the other hand, notched up an impressive 4-0 victory over Atalanta in their opening UCL fixture. The win took the Croatian side above City and into top spot in the group, having played a solitary match.
Additionally, Zagreb come into the encounter having struck 11 goals past their last two opponents.
So, on paper, the game promises plenty of attacking verve and entertainment, in light of the footballing philosophies both managers employ.
After all, goals are never too far away when City and Zagreb take the field.
Kick-off Information
Date: 1st October, 2019
Time: 08:00pm (Local Time); 12:30am IST on the 2nd of October, 2019
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Head to Head Record
The teams have never faced off against each other in official UEFA competition.
Form Guide (Last five competitive matches; Most recent first)
Manchester City: W-W-W-W-L
Dinamo Zagreb: W-W-L-W-W
Player to watch out for
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne missed a major chunk of last season and City still managed to win a domestic quadruple.
Thus, a few felt that the Cityzens had significantly offset the loss of the Belgian and that it would be hard for him to improve the team further.
Yet, those people couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
The Belgian has, somehow, managed to add another dimension to an already potent attacking unit.
So far, De Bruyne has racked up nine assists across all competitions while making the net bulge on two occasions.
Thus, the midfielder looks primed to make up for lost time this term and with an unheralded Zagreb side lying in wait, he might just fancy his chances.
Betting Tips
Manchester City win: 1.07
Dinamo Zagreb win: 36.00
Draw: 13.00
Bookmaker: Sportsbet