Dinamo Zagreb and Qarabag FK will lock horns in the first leg of their Champions League playoff contest on Tuesday evening, with both sides bidding to reach the league phase of the 2024-25 competition.
The home team have entered this season's tournament at the playoff stage, but Qarabag have already played four times in the Champions League this term, overcoming both Lincoln Red Imps and Ludogorets.
Match preview
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Dinamo Zagreb were Croatian champions for the 25th time last season, which saw them secure a spot in the Champions League playoff round, and they will now take on Qarabag over two legs to determine which side progresses to the next stage.
Sergej Jakirovic's side are already three games into their league season, and it has been a strong start, overcoming Istra 1961, Osijek and Sibenik to pick up nine points, which has left them at the top of the division.
The Blues have a rich history in European football, and they competed in last season's Europa Conference League, progressing to the round of 16, where they lost to PAOK.
Dinamo Zagreb last played in the group stage of the Champions League in 2022-23, finishing bottom of a section which also included Chelsea and AC Milan, while they also operated in the group stage of the 2019-20 tournament.
Jakirovic's side will enter the two-legged affair as the favourites to progress, and they will be looking to secure a first-leg lead on Tuesday ahead of the return fixture between the two sides on August 28.
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Qarabag, meanwhile, started their 2024-25 Champions League journey in the second qualifying round, beating Lincoln Red Imps 2-0 away and 5-0 at home to comfortably progress to the next stage with a seven-goal aggregate success.
Gurban Gurbanov's side were then involved in an incredible third qualifying round contest with Ludogorets, losing the first leg 2-1 at home before winning the second 7-2, with four of their goals coming in extra-time.
Qarabag reached the last-16 stage of the 2023-24 Europa League, losing to Bayer Leverkusen, but they have not been present in the group stage of the Champions League since 2017-18, operating alongside Roma, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea.
The Blue and Whites are two games into their league season, overcoming Araz Naxicivan and Kapaz to collect six points, which has left them second in the table, one point behind leaders Turan, who have played a game more.
Qarabag have been victorious in three of their last four Champions League away qualification fixtures, but they have won just one of their last three at home, including a 2-1 defeat to Ludogorets in the previous round.
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Team News
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Sandro Kulenovic has been in impressive form for Dinamo Zagreb in the early stages of the new campaign, scoring three times in three appearances, and the 24-year-old is again expected to be in the side on Tuesday night.
Stefan Ristovski has come up with two goals from right-back this term and is set to continue in the XI, and there are not expected to be any major surprises to their starting side in the first leg of their playoff clash.
Bruno Petkovic is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals this term, but the 29-year-old should again start in the final third of the field.
As for Qarabag, the Azerbaijani outfit have not been in action since the second leg of their third qualifying round fixture with Ludogorets, and the club have not reported any fresh fitness problems.
As a result, it is expected to be close to the same side that starts, but Patrick Andrade scored twice off the bench in the team's last match, and it would therefore be a surprise if he was not introduced into the side.
Juninho has been in excellent form so far this season, scoring seven goals in six appearances, and the 27-year-old will be looking to carry the goalscoring threat for the visitors on Tuesday night.
Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup:
Nevistic; Ristovski, Bernauer, Mmaee; Spikic, Ademi, Misic, Hoxha; Kulenovic, Baturina, Petkovic
Qarabag FK possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Vesovic, Mustafazade, Medina, Cafarquliyev; P Andrade, Romao; L Andrade, Benzia, Zoubir; Juninho
We say: Dinamo Zagreb 1-1 Qarabag FK
This is a really fascinating contest, and we are expecting it to be tight in terms of the overall aggregate score. Dinamo Zagreb will be bidding to claim a first-leg advantage, but we just have a feeling that a talented Qarabag outfit will be able to secure a draw on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
