Sunderland vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Sunderland

vs

Dinamo Zagreb

KickoffThursday 5 November 2026, 8:00pm

VenueStadium of Light

CompetitionUEFA Europa League

Sunderland’s Europa League campaign has been one of the few bright spots in what has otherwise been a difficult start to life in the top flight. Three games in, the Black Cats are unbeaten and sitting ninth in the League Phase standings, and a win on Thursday night could go a very long way toward locking down one of those automatic round of 16 spots. That is the prize on offer at the Stadium of Light this week, and given how badly Sunderland need something to celebrate right now, you can bet Regis Le Bris will be treating this one as a must win.

Back in the Premier League, things are genuinely grim. Seven games without a win, rock bottom of the table, and a 3-1 loss to newly promoted Coventry last weekend that hurt more than the scoreline suggests. But in Europe, a different Sunderland has shown up. Composed, clinical in moments, and hard to beat. The question is whether they can carry that form into another big home night under the lights.

Sunderland vs Dinamo Zagreb Match Details

This Europa League League Phase fixture takes place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, with both sides looking to build on their respective three game hauls in what is already shaping up to be a pivotal evening in Group Stage positioning. Sunderland are on seven points and Dinamo sit on four, meaning the gap could stretch considerably with a home win or be cut to just one with a Zagreb victory.

Team News

Le Bris has a few headaches to deal with, though the Europa League ineligibility rules are trimming his options further before injuries even come into it.

• Daniel Ballard (hamstring), Romaine Mundle (knee) and Habib Diarra (muscle) all remain sidelined
• Chemsdine Talbi, Jocelin Ta Bi, Melker Ellborg, Alan Browne and Aji Alese are all ineligible for European competition
• Nordi Mukiele is in concussion protocols and will need to be assessed before kickoff
• Teenager Juan Angulo is a doubt with a knock
• Brian Brobbey has signed a new long term contract but could make way for Wilson Isidor or Timur Tutierov up front
• Kevin Danso, Dayann Methalie, Thomas Meunier and Malick Fofana are all pressing for starting spots

For Zagreb, the big news is Scott McKenna missing out with a back strain that saw him left out of the Scotland squad entirely. Niko Galesic or Stjepan Radeljic is expected to slot in alongside Sergi Dominguez at centre back. Dion Drena Beljo, who has been in extraordinary form this season with 17 goals in 18 appearances, is fit and expected to lead the line.

Predicted Lineups

Le Bris looks likely to go with something close to his best available European setup. Danso coming back into the defence makes sense given his composure on the ball, and the attacking shape should have enough creativity around Wilson Isidor to cause Zagreb problems. Fofana and Meunier give width, with Le Fee pulling strings centrally.

Sunderland: Roefs; Hume, Danso, O’Nien, Methalie; Xhaka, Sadiki; Meunier, Le Fee, Fofana; Isidor

For Zagreb, caretaker boss Jerko Leko has very little time to stamp anything new on the team, so expect a familiar shape with the obvious defensive reshuffle forced by McKenna’s absence. Beljo is the danger man and the whole system will be built to serve him.

Dinamo Zagreb: Kotarski; Galesic, Dominguez, Radeljic, Vinlof; Misic, Ivanusec, Stojkovic; Almena, Beljo, Hoxha

Recent Form

Sunderland’s Premier League form makes for grim reading. Five defeats and two draws from their last seven top flight games, and that 3-1 loss at Coventry was the kind of result that piles pressure on everyone at the club. They are on five points after nine games, which is their worst return at this stage of a Premier League season since the campaign that ended with relegation in 2016-17. That context matters because it tells you just how important it is that Le Bris gets a result in this competition to keep the mood from completely collapsing.

But switch to the Europa League and it is a genuinely different story. Wins over AZ Alkmaar and Torreense either side of a creditable draw with Lech Poznan in Poland. Sunderland have been professional and purposeful in Europe, and the stat that only Bayer Leverkusen have attempted more shots in the opening three League Phase games tells you they are not just sitting deep and nicking results. They are genuinely going for it.

Zagreb arrive in poor shape. A shock 1-0 home defeat to Rudes in the Croatian league at the weekend was bad enough, but it cost Mario Kovacevic his job and the club are now in caretaker territory with Leko taking the reins temporarily. Their Europa League campaign has been inconsistent too, with a win over Anderlecht and a draw with Hapoel Be’er Sheva giving way to a 4-2 thrashing at home by NEC Nijmegen. You can beat them, clearly.

Head-to-Head Record

These two have not met before so there is no direct history to lean on. What we do know is that Dinamo’s record in European away games has been poor recently, winning just once in their last eight trips on the road in European competition, with four draws and three defeats making up the rest. Their record against English opposition is more balanced at three wins and three defeats from six games, but those results will count for little against a Sunderland side that genuinely has the bit between its teeth in this competition.

Key Stats

• Sunderland have attempted 67 shots in three Europa League games, second only to Bayer Leverkusen in the entire League Phase
• Dion Drena Beljo has 17 goals in 18 appearances this season, including three in two Europa League matches. He is the single biggest threat Zagreb possess
• Dinamo have won just one of their last eight European away fixtures

Sunderland vs Dinamo Zagreb Betting Tips

This fixture sets up nicely for Sunderland at home. Zagreb are in disarray off the pitch, their away form in Europe has been poor, and Sunderland have been genuinely impressive in this competition. There is value in backing the home side to get the job done, but Zagreb have a striker who could trouble any defence in Europe on his current numbers, so a clean sheet looks unlikely for either team.

Corners Prediction

Given Sunderland’s aggressive attacking approach and the sheer volume of shots they are generating in this competition, expect them to dominate territory at the Stadium of Light. A high corners count looks likely, with the home side pushing forward regularly and Zagreb likely to hit on the counter. Back over 10 corners in this one.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

Both teams have shown they can score in Europe and neither is particularly easy to shut out. Sunderland create chances for fun in this competition and Beljo is a constant threat for Zagreb. Over 2.5 goals looks the sensible call here and the most likely outcome of this tie.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Prediction

Beljo has scored in two of Zagreb’s three Europa League games and he will fancy his chances against a Sunderland backline missing McKenna’s former defensive partner on the other side. Sunderland will score, but so will Zagreb. BTTS yes is the pick.

Cards Prediction

Zagreb are coming into this game under pressure and with a caretaker in charge who needs to show he can get a result. That often means a more aggressive, disrupted defensive performance. Combine that with Sunderland’s willingness to drive forward at pace and you have the conditions for a feisty evening. Over 3.5 cards looks like fair value in this one.

Correct Score Prediction

Sunderland are the stronger side at home in this competition and Zagreb’s defensive reshuffle creates vulnerabilities. A 2-1 home win feels right, with Beljo grabbing one for the visitors but Sunderland ultimately having too much for a disorganised Zagreb outfit.

First Goalscorer Prediction

Wilson Isidor looks set to lead the line for Sunderland and at the Stadium of Light with the crowd behind him, he will be a handful. With Sunderland creating chances at an elite level in this competition, backing Isidor to get on the scoresheet first is a reasonable shout at a likely generous price.

Bet Builder Tip

A Sunderland win with both teams scoring and plenty of corners reflects the attacking nature of this game and backs the home side’s clear dominance in European competition this season.

Final Match Prediction

Sunderland win this. The Europa League has been their sanctuary this season and the Stadium of Light on a European night is a different atmosphere entirely from the pressure cooker of a Premier League relegation fight. Le Bris will set his side up to be aggressive and forward thinking, and a disorganised Zagreb side without McKenna and under caretaker leadership is exactly the kind of opponent you want to face when you need a big result.

Beljo will cause problems because that is what he does, but Sunderland’s firepower should be enough to see them over the line. Sunderland 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb.

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