Dinamo Zagreb vs. Celtic: Statistical Overview

This upcoming fixture marks the seventh occasion Dinamo Zagreb and Celtic have met in European competition, including qualifying rounds. In their six previous encounters, both teams have registered three wins each. Their most recent clash took place in December 2014, with Dinamo Zagreb securing a 4-3 home victory over Celtic during the Europa League group stage. This result remains the highest number of goals they have scored in a single game against a British opponent in a major European tournament. Daizen Maeda has scored three goals for Celtic in the current Champions League season. The last player to net more for the club in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign was Joseph Craig, who achieved four goals in the 1977-1978 season. All three of Marko Pjaca’s goals for Dinamo Zagreb in European competition have been scored against Celtic, stemming from a hat-trick he netted against them in December 2014. He is recognized as the youngest player to score a European hat-trick for the Croatian side. Dinamo Zagreb has demonstrated the most direct style of play when in possession in the Champions League this season, advancing the ball upfield in open play at a quicker average pace (2.02 metres per second) than any other team. In their previous Champions League match, a 0-3 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, Dinamo Zagreb recorded an expected goals total of just 0.14. Only one other team has posted a lower total in a home game in the competition this season: Slovan Bratislava, with 0.1 against Manchester City. Having gone unbeaten in their last three matches (one win, two draws), Celtic will be aiming to achieve a four-game unbeaten run in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League for the first time since October 1986. Both of Dinamo Zagreb’s victories in the Champions League this season have occurred away from home (2-0 against RB Salzburg and 4-1 against Slovan Bratislava). On their home ground, they have won only two of their last 13 games in the competition (three draws, eight losses) and are currently winless in their last four home fixtures (two draws, two losses). Among teams that have played 50 or more games in the Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb (68%) and Celtic (57%) are two of the three sides with the highest percentage of losses, alongside Anderlecht (58%).