Shakhtar Donetsk v GNK Dinamo Zagreb Betting Tips [22 October 2019]

Ukraines Vyscha Liga leaders Shakhtar Donetsk will host their counterparts from Croatia Dinamo Zagreb in their third Champions League group match. Zagreb are second in the group standings on the same point count as third-placed Dinamo. Manchester City, who have won both of their games, lead the group as Atalanta Bergamo sit at the bottom of the table having lost all their opening matches.

Dinamo kicked off their campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Atalanta but fell 2-0 at Manchester City in the second game. This was a hosts Shaktar lost 3-0 at home to the Citizens, later rising to triumph 2-1 at Atalanta. Shakhtar go into the Tuesday fixture on an impressive five match winning streak including a 6-0 demolishing of Kolos Kovalivka in their most recent match, a league encounter in Kharkiv. 

The visitors travel buoyed by a 4-2 away Croatian HNL win over HNK Gorica. In general, it has been a series of mixed results for Zagreb in their last four matches that has seen them win twice, lose once and draw once. We expect the match against Shakhtar to be exceptionally difficult for them because the Ukranian side has not lost a game at home in the last 12 fixtures since May. In addition, Shakhtar have managed to keep cleansheets in four of their last 12 matches at home. Meanwhile, Dinamo have won three times in their last six matches but all the wins have been in domestic competitions. 

Dinamo are a great side when it comes to domestic competitions, but they have been struggling in international games, and this one will be no different. They are up against a Shakhtar Donetsk side that is lethal at home, and which will do all it takes to walk out with a victory in front of their fans. The hosts have been in great scoring form and have scored at least three goals in four of their last five matches at the Metalist. We, therefore, cannot see this match going either way except for a win by the home side.