Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Dinamo Zagreb

vs

Anderlecht

KickoffThursday 15 October 2026, 8:00pm

VenueStadion Maksimir

CompetitionUEFA Europa League

Dinamo Zagreb need a response, and they need it badly. A derby defeat to Hajduk Split at the weekend stings at the best of times, but when you are also sitting on just one point from your opening Europa League fixture, the pressure to perform on home soil becomes something altogether more urgent. Mario Kovacevic’s side know that letting this one slip could leave them chasing the pack before the league phase has really got going.

Anderlecht arrive in Croatia in a slightly more buoyant mood after snatching a dramatic late win at Cercle Brugge, but Vitor Bruno will not be kidding himself. The performance was far from convincing, the defensive questions raised by their opening Europa League loss to Lyon have not gone away, and now they face a Maksimir crowd that will be roaring Dinamo forward from the first whistle. This is a fixture that has proper substance to it.

Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht Match Details

The sides meet at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb for the second round of fixtures in the 2026 to 2027 UEFA Europa League league phase. Maksimir has been a fortress for Dinamo in domestic football and the Croatian champions will be desperate to make it count in Europe, with their campaign in real need of a first three points on the board.

Team News

Neither side is at full strength, and there are some meaningful absentees on both sides of the ball heading into this one.

• Aleks Stojakovic is injured and will miss out for Dinamo.
• Captain Josip Misic was suspended for the Hajduk derby after picking up a red card, but that domestic ban does not carry over into European competition, so he is available here.
• Luka Stojkovic came off the bench against Hajduk after not being fit enough to start and could come into contention for a bigger role if his recovery has continued.
• Giulian Biancone is expected to remain sidelined for Anderlecht after picking up an injury against Mechelen.
• Andrew Omobamidele was considered doubtful before the weekend and did not feature against Cercle Brugge, leaving Vitor Bruno with a real selection headache at centre back.

Predicted Lineups

Kovacevic looks set to line up with familiar faces at the back, though the fitness of Stojkovic adds an interesting wrinkle to his midfield options. The return of Misic in the middle of the park would be a significant boost after he missed the derby.

Dinamo Zagreb: Kotarski; Tabinas, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlof; Zajc, Kravtsov, Kacavenda; Ivanusec, Beljo, Lisica

For Anderlecht, the absences of Biancone and Omobamidele are a genuine concern. Bruno will need to patch together his central defensive partnership and hope it holds against a Dinamo attack that will come at them early and often. Bentayeb earns his spot after his goal at Cercle Brugge.

Anderlecht: Coosemans; Maamar, Biancone, Petrot, Augustinsson; Winkler, Koutsoupias, Kana, Antman; Bentayeb, Sikan

Recent Form

Dinamo’s form coming into this has been a real mixed bag. Two domestic wins gave them some positive momentum, but that derby defeat to Hajduk at the weekend was a proper setback. Beljo gave them the lead and they looked like they might hold on, but an own goal from McKenna levelled things up before Sanyang grabbed the winner after the break. It was exactly the kind of game they could not afford to lose going into a European week, and the manner of the defeat, conceding twice after taking the lead, will be a worry for the gaffer.

Their Europa League campaign started with a goalless draw against Hapoel Beer Sheva, and while a clean sheet is always welcome, the lack of attacking threat was the real concern. Kovacevic’s side had the ball plenty but could not make it count in the final third. That has to change here. Beljo looked sharp enough to cause problems, and with the crowd behind them this is the sort of occasion Dinamo can feed off.

Anderlecht came from behind to beat Cercle Brugge, which shows character, but they were second best for large chunks of that game. Falling behind to an early goal and then relying on a 93rd minute winner is not exactly a blueprint for going deep in European competition. Their opening Europa League fixture at home to Lyon was even more alarming, going two goals down inside 22 minutes. They pulled one back but could not complete the turnaround. There is a pattern there of slow starts and defensive fragility that Dinamo will be looking to exploit from the off.

Head-to-Head Record

The history between these two sides is tight and genuinely interesting. They have met four times in European competition, with Dinamo winning twice, drawing once and losing once. That gives the Croatians a slight edge in terms of the record, but Anderlecht’s away form at this ground specifically is worth flagging. Their two previous visits to Maksimir have produced a win and a draw, which means they have never lost there. The most recent visit, back in December 2018, ended goalless, while Dinamo picked up a 2-0 win in Brussels earlier that same campaign.

So Dinamo hold the overall edge in this fixture, but Anderlecht clearly know how to come to Zagreb and not get beaten. That away record is a minor warning sign for Dinamo backers, even if the overall head to head leans in the home side’s favour.

Key Stats

• Anderlecht have never lost at Stadion Maksimir in two previous visits, picking up one win and one draw.
• Dinamo have kept just one clean sheet in their last five matches across all competitions, that goalless draw with Beer Sheva in their Europa League opener.
• Anderlecht conceded twice in their opening Europa League fixture and were behind inside the first minute at Cercle Brugge, suggesting their back line is consistently slow to settle.

Dinamo Zagreb vs Anderlecht Betting Tips

Dinamo look like the right side to be on here. The home crowd factor matters in a game like this, they are stung from the derby defeat, and the opposition defence is patched together with key names unavailable. Anderlecht showed character at Cercle Brugge but they are not suddenly a transformed side. Both teams finding the net in a European night at Maksimir feels very much on the cards, with Dinamo having enough to shade it.

Corners Prediction

Expect Dinamo to pin Anderlecht back for long spells and force them onto the back foot. A home side pushing for goals against a vulnerable defence usually produces a healthy corner count, and with Anderlecht also capable of breaking quickly and forcing Dinamo to reset, the total should be generous. Over 9 corners looks a solid call here.

First Goalscorer Prediction

Dion Drena Beljo scored against Hajduk Split at the weekend and looked sharp throughout. He is the focal point of the Dinamo attack and will be first to any ball in behind against a makeshift Anderlecht back line. Beljo to score first at a decent price makes plenty of sense.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Prediction

Yes. Dinamo have been vulnerable defensively and Anderlecht, for all their problems at the back, carry a threat going forward as Bentayeb and Sikan showed against Cercle Brugge. Dinamo will likely score, and Anderlecht have enough about them to nick one at the other end. BTTS yes is the call.

Cards Prediction

European nights at Maksimir, with a fired up home crowd and a competitive fixture between two sides who both need points, tend to produce a bit of needle. Anderlecht’s defensive line will be under pressure and may resort to cynical fouls to stop Dinamo breaking. Over 3 cards in this one looks reasonable.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

Over 2.5 goals. Dinamo are pushing hard at home, Anderlecht’s defence is short of its best personnel, and recent evidence suggests neither side is particularly watertight at the back. A game that finishes with three or more goals feels very much in keeping with the profile of both teams right now.

Bet Builder Tip

Dinamo winning while both sides score fits the profile of this game perfectly, and Beljo as first scorer adds genuine value to a bet builder that reflects the most likely shape of the evening.

Final Match Prediction

Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 Anderlecht. Dinamo have too much to prove in front of their own supporters and Anderlecht’s defensive situation gives the home side every reason for optimism. The visitors will not roll over, they showed that by coming from behind late at Cercle Brugge, but the gaps at the back are likely to be punished.

Kovacevic gets his response to that derby defeat, Beljo leads the line effectively and Dinamo bank their first Europa League win of the campaign. Anderlecht grab a consolation, which they have shown they are capable of, but it will not be enough.

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