Tottenham Hotspur are on a four-game winning streak heading into the Europa League last 16 first leg versus Dinamo Zagreb in London.
Jose Mourinho’s team conceded just one goal over the course of those four games and confidence is high of winning on Thursday night at home.
🍿 Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats for 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐞 & 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰. #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/jtrfCyEGAD— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 7, 2021
🍿 Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats for 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐞 & 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰. #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/jtrfCyEGAD
Dinamo Zagreb are on an eight-game winning streak in all competitions. They reached the Europa League last 16 thanks to a 4-2 aggregate win over Russia’s Krasnodar in the previous round.
Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the last 16 by knocking out Austria’s Wolfsberger AC, 8-1, on aggregate. Spurs may be blowing hot and cold in the Premier League, but Mourinho’s team are showing themselves to be a cup side.
Mourinho’s team have already played 45 times in all competitions this season. Spurs had to go through the qualification rounds to reach the Europa League group stage proper.
They have played an immense amount of football, which, could take its toll on the team later in the tournament.
Dinamo Zagreb cannot be taken lightly on Thursday night. They are strong side although they play in a lower-tier European league.
Manager Zoran Mamić has led the side to a record of 11W-4D-2L on the road this season. Dinamo Zagreb began the season in the Champions League qualifying rounds, but moved to the Europa League after being eliminated from the competition.
Dinamo Zagreb average 1.74 goals per game on their travels while conceding 1.0 goals a game. Tottenham Hotspur average 2.29 goals a game while allowing 0.71 to opponents in London.
On paper, it feels like the game could be a low-scoring affair due to the two defences. However, Spurs have battered Europa League opponents. Spurs thrashed Wolfsberger AC in the previous round, scoring four times in each game.
Mourinho has just two players suffering from injury heading into the game. Giovani Lo Celso is still on the sideline. He is unlikely to return until the weekend at the earliest. Full-back Serge Aurier could possibly be fit to return to the team.
The manager could give Dele Alli a start against Dinamo Zagreb. The out of favour midfielder played in the second leg versus Wolfsberger AC, scoring once and adding two assists.
Tottenham Hotspur’s play in the Europa League has been brilliant. The team are playing well in the tournament and Dinamo Zagreb should simply be a bump in the road on the way to the last eight of the competition.
Spurs should win to nil against Dinamo and score over 2.5 goals.