Read our prediction for FC Astana vs D. Zagreb below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between FC Astana vs D. Zagreb and you can increase your winnings!
FC Astana vs D. Zagreb Prediction & Betting tips
Both the Kazakhstan Astana and the Croatian Dinamo Zagreb know the blows of the European whip. However, only one of these two teams goes through to the play-offs of the Champions League and can continue to dream of the corresponding prestige (and big bag of money).
Astana:
Astana is once again hunting for a ticket for the Champions League this season. In the 2015-2016 season, it was the first Kazakh club ever to qualify for the main event. Last season, the blue gels re-written football history as the very first Kazakh club to overwinter in a European tournament (the Europa League). Not bad for a club that was only founded nine years ago.
The success of Astana, however, does not come out of the blue completely unexpectedly. The club is directly in the possession of the Kazakh government and the president of the country is also the chairman of the club. As a result, Astana has a huge budget, although that does not mean that the club invariably throws money. Instead of wasting her money on superstars, Astana chooses the path of gradualism. The club lost success coach Stanimir Stoilov and her star player Patrick Twumasi this summer, but the Kazakh people are doing well again this season. The team is back on the lead in the Kazakh competition and after 22 rounds, is separated by six points from closest striker Kairat, the team that last week eliminated AZ in the preliminary rounds of the Europa League. In addition, the blue gels in the previous preliminary round recently settled with FC Midtjylland, the champion of Denmark. Hungarian international Laszlo Kleinheiser was the big man in that dip with two goals and will also try to put his stamp on the game against Dinamo Zagreb.
Dinamo Zagreb:
With no less than twelve country titles in the past thirteen seasons, Dinamo Zagreb is at a lone height in its own country. Only Rijeka beat the Croatian top club once again two years ago, although De Blauwen immediately put things back on track last season by securing their nineteenth national championship. The big challenge lies beyond the national borders. Dinamo Zagreb has in any case something to put right. Last season, the club had to make it without European football, after the Croatians got tired in the preliminaries of the Europa League in the Albanian Skenderbeu.
This summer Dinamo Zagreb drew the newspapers in both negative and positive terms. Former chairman Zdravko Mamic was brought to justice for corruption, tax evasion and bribery. WK-star and former player Luka Modric, however, rallied behind his former chairman and could be prosecuted for some statements. During the same period, however, Croatia reached the World Cup finals with no less than fourteen former Dinamo Zagreb players in the ranks. The club is really a factory of upcoming football talent, so also in the diptych against Astana there will be several scouts in the stands again.