The Europa League groups stage begins on Thursday and Group H rivals Dinamo Zagreb and West Ham will clash at the Stadion Maksimir.
West Ham manager David Moyes will fancy the team’s chances of getting through the group stage. The Hammers have started the new Premier League season well. West Ham are eighth in the league after four games.
⚽️😊💪🏻💙 #dinamozagreb @EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/vdoAlaqFOs— GNK Dinamo (@gnkdinamo) September 15, 2021
⚽️😊💪🏻💙 #dinamozagreb @EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/vdoAlaqFOs
Dinamo Zagreb are joint top of the Croatian top flight after seven matchdays. Manager Damir Krznar will have hopes of the team getting through the group stage. Dinamo Zagreb and West Ham are joined in Group H by Genk and Rapid Wien.
West Ham have posted a record of 2W-2D-2L this season. The Hammers have outscored opponents 10-5 and have kept one clean sheet.
Dinamo Zagreb have posted a record of 10W-3D-2L this season in all competitions. The Croatians have scored 23 goals but have been guilty of conceding 11 times.
Ten matches this season saw Dinamo Zagreb keep a clean sheet. However, the gulf in class between the Premier League and Croatian top flight is immense.
Dinamo Zagreb started their European journey in the Champions League qualifying rounds. They were knocked out of the Champions League in the playoff round by surprise winners Sheriff Tiraspol. Dinamo Zagreb had progressed all the way from the first qualifying round.
Moyes could rotate the side going into the game. New signings Kurt Zouma and Alphonse Areola are likely to make appearances for West Ham. Alex Kral could also be handed a first start. Moyes could play striker Michail Antonio after the player was sent off last weekend versus Southampton.
Antonio is unavailable for West Ham’s next Premier League match, giving Moyes the chance to play him on Thursday. Nikola Vlasic could start in attack giving Zaid Benrahma the night off.
Dinamo Zagreb’s first-choice goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic is likely to miss the game through injury. Danijel Zagorac will likely step into goal if Livakovic cannot go.
Striker Mario Gavranovic and defender Dino Peric are ruled out with injuries. Meanwhile, captain Arijan Ademi has been passsed fit to play.
West Ham are in good form going into the match. Although the Hammers have played far fewer games the Dinamo Zagreb, they should be more than enough for the Croatians on the night.
Thursday’s Europa League Group H curtain raiser should be a low scoring match with a single goal separating the two teams. West Ham should stay unbeaten and win to start off the Europa League tournament with under 2.5 goals scored.