Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan

A pivotal Champions League match-up at the Maksimir Stadion pits Dinamo Zagreb against AC Milan in a bottom-half Group E six-pointer.

It’s a crunch time in Group E, with only three points separating four sides ahead of the two final matchdays. Since a sensational 1-0 home triumph over Chelsea on day one, Dinamo Zagreb have gone winless in three consecutive Champions League games (D1, L2), scoring under 1.5 goals on each occasion. But if they can win multiple matches across a single Champions League season for the second time in club history, reaching the competition’s knockouts for the first time could turn into reality. That’s not an impossible task by any stretch of the imagination, as the ‘Blues’ have only lost one of their last five Champions League home outings (W2, D2). Yet, qualifiers included, the Croats have lost all five of their previous European meetings with Milan.

Milan’s 100% win ratio against Zagreb, coupled with back-to-back Serie A victories preceding this trip, means the visitors will show up full of belief despite losing both previous Champions League matches to Chelsea. ‘I Rossoneri’ bid to progress into the competition’s knockouts for the first time since 2013/14, yet their underwhelming Group E record speaks otherwise (W1, D1, L2). But expect for a 3-0 demolition at the hands of Chelsea in early October, Stefano Pioli’s men have won three of their last four competitive away fixtures despite failing to keep a single clean sheet in that sequence. Pioli may see this trip as a personal mission after overseeing just two victories in his ten Champions League appearances in charge of Milan (D2, L6).