This week will see the completion of the first qualifying round for the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League. On Tuesday the 13th of July we have the second leg of the first round tie between Valur Reykjavik and Dinamo Zagreb and the match will be played at the Vodafonevöllurinn in Iceland.
The tie is currently 3-2 in the favour of Dinamo Zagreb following the first leg in Croatia last week.
FT | 90'+5 Dinamo - Valur 3:2 😊💪🏻💙⚽️ Ademi 2x⚽️ Majer (11m)#dinamozagreb📷 PIXSELL pic.twitter.com/Cdir5YG9K0— GNK Dinamo (@gnkdinamo) July 7, 2021
FT | 90'+5 Dinamo - Valur 3:2 😊💪🏻💙⚽️ Ademi 2x⚽️ Majer (11m)#dinamozagreb📷 PIXSELL pic.twitter.com/Cdir5YG9K0
Valur Reykjavik come into the game having had a break on the weekend without a fixture in the Úrvalsdeild karla. Despite not playing a match, they remain top of the table, 5 points clear of the team in second place who have a game in hand.
So, we must go back to the first leg of this tie to find the last time Valur Reykjavik played. They fell a goal behind after only 8 minutes of the game and conceded a second from the penalty spot just before half time.
Dinamo Zagreb were in full control and added a third goal in the 71st minute and it appeared as though the tie was over.
However, Valur Reykjavik had other ideas and with only two minutes remaining on the clock the Icelandic club managed to score two goals and that gives them a decent chance coming into this second leg.
Trends show Valur Reykjavik are undefeated in their last 24 home matches in all competitions. They have recorded one victory from their last 3 home Champions League fixtures and that was 1-0 over Rosenborg in 2018.
Dinamo Zagreb travel to Iceland having last played in the first leg of this tie. So, much like the hosts, it has been week of rest for the Croatian club ahead of this important game.
They will be hugely disappointed to be entering this fixture with the score at 3-2. Dinamo Zagreb were in complete control of the tie following 71 minutes of the first leg but allowed their opponents back into it by conceding two late goals.
Dinamo Zagreb have a poor recent away record in the Champions League and they have won only one of their last 5 on the road. The victory came via a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw at Romanian club, CFR Cluj in 2020.
Trends show Dinamo Zagreb have scored at least one goal in 9 of their last 11 away Champions League matches.
Team news and Valur Reykjavik could make a few changes to the starting XI from last week. Christian Køhler, Andri Adolphsson, and Sverrir Hjaltested could come into the team.
Dinamo Zagreb could have both Luka Ivanusec and Mislav Orsic available again as both players missed the first leg.
This could be an uncomfortable evening for Dinamo Zagreb in the Icelandic capital but they should have enough firepower to win the game.
It would not be a surprise to see a similar score from the first leg and we expect to see the visitors winning the match, with both teams scoring.