Match Threads Spurs vs Dinamo Zagreb - Match Thread - Europa Cup - Last 16 - 1st leg

[Yid-ol]

Sorry if clarified before however do away goals count at this stage? Cheers

If they don't, do we technically keep a clean sheet as their goals don't count as they are away!

but yes, away goals will found over the 2 legs like last round of needed.

 

[spursfan77]

Dele Alli among three Spurs players one yellow card away from Europa League ban

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho will have to think carefully about his starting line-up for this evening's clash with Dinamo Zagreb at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

www.football.london

Doherty, Hojbjerg and Dele all one booking away from a one match ban. Yellows wiped after this round but a booking in this tie could rule them out of the next round initial fixture should we progress.

 

[spursfan77]

A little info on our opponents tonight

Europa League: What Tottenham Can Expect from Dinamo Zagreb

Besides giving us Luca Modric and losing in 2008 what should we expect from GNK Dinamo Zagreb when they face Tottenham Hotspur Thursday in Europa League

hotspurhq.com

Europa League: What Tottenham Can Expect from Dinamo Zagreb


by Aaron Coe1 minute agoFollow @SpursFanAZ

When Dinamo Zagreb comes to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, they represent a relative unknown for Tottenham and most fans. Sure, Zagreb is where Spurs signed Luka Modrić from way back in the day and once face Dinamo Zagreb in the 2008 UEFA Cup, which resulted in a 4-0 Spurs win a White Hart Lane. However, those two events were in the distant past and give us no real idea of what to expect from Dinamo Zagreb in the match on Thursday, so what should we expect from GNK Dinamo Zagreb when they face Tottenham Thursday?


Tottenham Facing a Good Defense
Dinamo Zagreb is nothing if not difficult to score against. In eight matches in this season’s UEFA Europa League Dinamo has only conceded 3 total goals, with only 1 against in the Group Stage. With six clean sheets in eight matches, Zagreb is only conceding a minuscule .4 goals per match coming into the Round of 16.

Dinamo’s defense is not like Tottenham’s defense where the strength comes from holding possession and staying on the attack, rather it is from good defense. Dinamo concedes a relatively high number of shots per match at 12 per contest but only 1/3 of those end up being on target and then Dominik Livakovic is a pretty strong keeper. With 27 saves in eight matches, Dinamo is averaging more than 3 saves per game.


Part of the success defensively for Dinamo comes from having a solid back four in front of Livakovic. While the formations in front of the defense may morph and adapt based on the opponent, we can expect a four-man backline that works hard to keep Spurs in front of them, commits few dumb fouls, and limits the clean looks for Tottenham.

Dinamo has been successful defensively both in Europe and in their Croatian domestic league where they are currently in 1st place with a plus 35 goal difference with a 17-3-3 record in 23 matches. With just 22 goals against, giving up under a goal per game is just what Dinamo is about. Only twice all season have they conceded three goals in a match and they have 10 shutouts in the domestic campaign.


Dinamo Zagreb have a proficient and effective attack
With 57 goals in 23 matches – 2.48/match- Dinamo Zagreb does not have a problem scoring in their league. And while the goals per match average in Europa League is not as high, Zagreb is proficient at scoring. Dinamo has 13 goals in their eight matches, which is 1.63 per game. Those 13 goals came from just 87 total shots for a 15% true conversation rate.

As a point of comparison, in Europa League this season, Tottenham has scored 23 goals from 141 shots, which is a 16% conversion rate. This means Zagreb does about as well as Tottenham does when they get their opportunities, they just do not get quite as many.

Much of the Zagreb attack actually comes from the flanks. About 3.75% of ALL their passes are crossed, not including 44 corners, which is actually 9 more corner kicks than Tottenham have taken thus far in Europa League. In other words, expect to see Dinamo launching the ball into the box and creating 50/50 chances whenever they can on offense. As we know Tottenham is not particularly strong in the air and this could be problematic.

Dinamo can win and can win on the road
Yes, Dinamo Zagreb is a big fish from a rather small pond but they are still a big fish. As the 35th ranked team in all of UEFA, they are not meant to be a pushover. Dinamo was playing in the Champions League last season scoring against Manchester City in the Group Stage and ack in 2015, Dinamo beat Arsenal on one of two legs in the Champions League.

Having played Arsenal multiple times – including the win – and Manchester City last season the moment is unlikely to be too big for Dinamo the way it was for Wolfsberger. In fact, Dinamo is unbeaten in four road games in this competition. With eight goals for and just two against and a 3-1-0 record in those four matches, Dinamo Zagreb knows how to travel and travel well.

Ultimately, Tottenham is very capable of beating Dinamo Zagreb, however, that will not happen just because they show up. If Spurs are looking for a team to mess the bed and beat themselves, they have another thing coming for them. On the other hand, if Tottenham comes ready to play against a quality opponent and looks to limit their opportunities while capitalizing on their own, Spurs can win this match and the two-legged affair. Just do not be surprised if it is a little harder than you might like and Spurs are again facing a keeper having a day, as that is just how Zagreb rolls.

The guy who wrote that has "Tottenham Hotspurs" in his bio. Not sure how seriously he should be taken!

 

[Amo]

Zagreb have only conceded in 1 game in last 8 and won all of them

Dr Tottenham will see-

Oh, wait...

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

Kane has to play!

 

[TheTanguy]

Kane has to play!

He will!

 

[mark87]

Kane has to play!

As much as I'd like him to play, he's been playing alot recently and last thing I'd want is for him to get injured and fuck up our run-in, so I'd bring him on from the bench if needed.

 

[Lumiere]

Interesting piece about Dinamo, apparently their coach may be facing a jail sentence

Dinamo Zagreb's Zoran Mamic: master coach or criminal – or both? | Aleksandar Holiga

Croatian club take on Spurs on Thursday but their coach may face a jail sentence and his brother is at large in Bosnia and Herzegovina

www.theguardian.com

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I think we are looking at an opponent who in quality may be equal to the top of championship. From what I have read, they seem to have a good core of 4-5 domestic players (spread across all team units). The rest of the team is very hit and miss, as one would expect, and so on balance it should be great fun, and a thorough step up in level from prior matches in EL.

 

[dondo]

On another note, I notice that DZ have a Welsh 21 y/o called Robbie Burton in their squad.

Apparently he used to captain Arsenal U-23s and signed for DZ last year.

Fair play to the lad, going abroad to further his career and I'm sure having a bit of an adventure in the process.

Robbie Burton (footballer) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

He did a burton....

I’ll get my coat

 

[SlotBadger]

Something to whet your appetite if you're bored at work like me:

 

[cjbyid]

Kane isn't in that training match vid so wouldn't be surprised to see him rested tonight.

 

[TheRevolution]

I think Vini will play. Hopefully we get to see more of combination with Dele tonight, looked like they were clicking well against Wolfsberger.

 

[Nayim60yards]

Dele Alli among three Spurs players one yellow card away from Europa League ban

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho will have to think carefully about his starting line-up for this evening's clash with Dinamo Zagreb at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

www.football.london

Doherty, Hojbjerg and Dele all one booking away from a one match ban. Yellows wiped after this round but a booking in this tie could rule them out of the next round initial fixture should we progress.

Presumably a booking tonight rules them out of the second leg and a booking in the second leg is all that rules them out of the Q/F first leg?

 

[Nayim60yards]

Kane isn't in that training match vid so wouldn't be surprised to see him rested tonight.

PEH is and Jose has already said he won't be starting so I don't think it works like that.

 

[degoose]

I'm expecting the usual switch up of players. A strong 11 still but with a lot rested for sunday as we have a very strong squad.

 

[dontcallme]

I'm expecting the usual switch up of players. A strong 11 still but with a lot rested for sunday as we have a very strong squad.

Very possible. We have been caught out by teams before by underestimating them. I hope Jose is not going to be caught out.

A good win tonight will hopefully help us rest a couple in the 2nd leg.

 

[degoose]

Very possible. We have been caught out by teams before by underestimating them. I hope Jose is not going to be caught out.

A good win tonight will hopefully help us rest a couple in the 2nd leg.

yeah i think we have enough now. I mean i can see Kane,Bale,Son,Reggie,Toby rested for sure and Hojberg was already put down as rested. So it's mainly filling in those gaps with what we have left. Obviously some will be on the bench just in case.

 

[thecook]

I don't expect us to put the tie to bed tonight, but I would expect a 2 goal or more lead. I think a 3/4 strength team starting should do the job, with options to bring on some of the bigger guns later on only if needed.

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

I think Son should be the one to be rested tonight not Kane