Dinamo Zagreb vs Rijeka Prediction: Big match in Zagreb

Dinamo will welcome Rijeka in the derby of the 14th round of the HNL, on Saturday at 19:45, at the Maksimir stadium. In the previous round, both teams drew. The home team drew with Gorica 2:2, and the away team drew with Osijek 1:1. The first head-to-head match of the season ended in a draw at Rujevica (1:1). The pressure is bigger on Dinamo even though they are doing great in the UEFA Champions League.

Form: DWWLW

Dinamo Zagreb come into this match after a 2-2 draw with Gorica in their last HNL match. Despite dominating possession (70%) and having 15 shots on goal, 9 of which were on target, Dinamo only managed to equalize. Dinamo's goalscorers were Dario Spikic in the 45th minute and Nathanaël Mbuku in the 86th minute. The match was exciting, and Dinamo's attacking dominance highlighted their offensive strength but also exposed their defensive weaknesses. In recent matches, Dinamo Zagreb have been involved in high-scoring matches, with a total of 25 goals in their last 6 matches, which gives an average of 4.17 goals per match. Of these, Dinamo have scored 16 goals, which shows their impressive offensive performance. However, I think that defensive problems could be a key factor in the upcoming match. Dinamo have an excellent record against Rijeka, with 15 games without defeat in their last league matches.

Form: DWDWD

On the other hand, Rijeka did not win in their last appearance, where they drew 1-1 with Osijek. Rijeka controlled 49% of possession and had 14 shots on goal, 7 of which were on target. Toni Fruk scored for Rijeka in the 51st minute, and Osijek equalized in the last moment (95 minute) with a goal by Emir Hasic. The match was tactically closed, and Rijeka struggled to convert. When looking at their form, Rijeka have been involved in matches with very few goals in the last six matches, with an average of only 1.5 goals per match. In that period, they have scored only 0.83 goals per match. Despite this, their defense has been solid and can be a real challenge to Dinamo's offensive. Rijeka have a poor historical record on the road against Dinamo, as they have not won at Maksimir in their last seven league matches. However, their away form is not without its bright moments as they are undefeated in their last six away games.

Despite it's a derby and the fact that Rijeka are ranked higher in the league, Dinamo are a big favorite in this match due to the better players, head-to-head record, and home-field advantage. Therefore, I believe that Dinamo should triumph in this match without any major problems, and we will finally see Rijeka defeated in the league. In my opinion, Dinamo’s offensive line is far better now than it was in their first duel this season and I expect them to their streak of high-scoring matches.