Celtic’s upcoming Champions League tie against Dinamo Zagreb carries significant weight as both teams look to secure a place in the knockout stages.
While the Hoops head into the fixture in strong domestic form, Zagreb’s recent struggles provide Brendan Rodgers’ men with a golden opportunity to capitalise and cement their European progress.
Dinamo Zagreb are in the midst of a concerning slump, having gone five matches without a win in all competitions. Their 1-1 home draw against Slaven Koprivnica on Friday night followed a 1-0 defeat to Hajduk Split, continuing a trend of inconsistent performances.
In the Champions League, they most recently endured a comprehensive 3-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, leaving them with just seven points from five matches.
This dip in form has put pressure on the Croatian giants, who now find themselves in a precarious position. However, with their knockout hopes still alive, Zagreb will be desperate to find a return to form when they host Celtic. A positive result for them would give their campaign a much-needed boost, but their lack of momentum is a vulnerability Celtic will look to exploit.
In contrast, Celtic are riding a wave of confidence domestically. The Hoops lead the Scottish Premiership by seven points, having demonstrated consistent quality and resilience throughout the season.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has expertly utilised squad rotation to keep his players fresh, ensuring they maintain high standards across all competitions.
In the Champions League, Celtic have gathered eight points from five matches and are within touching distance of the coveted 10-point mark that data experts believe is sufficient for knockout stage qualification. Victory in Zagreb would see Celtic hit 11 points, ‘securing’ progress.
