Croatian journalist Ižak Ante Su?i? fears that Celtic could score three times away to Dinamo Zagreb in tomorrow’s Champions League tie.
While the hoops have improved greatly this season in the elite competition points and goals away from home are a rarity.
In five away ties under Brendan Rodgers Celtic have scored just one goal and picked up one point but it is that draw away to Atalanta that provides most hope of progress beyond the group phase.
After losing seven goals away to Borussia Dortmund the 0-0 draw in Bergamo gave the club a massive condidence boost which was followed up by a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig.
Celtic go into Tuesday’s match with eight points, one more than Dinamo but the Croatian champions have suffered two heavy defeats from German clubs, 9-2 away to Bayern Munich in the opening match with Borussia Dortmund winning 3-0 in Zagreb in the most recent round of fixtures.
Predicting results is a dangerous path to go down but five matches without a win has left Dinamo in third place in the Croatian League with a heavy injury toll reducing expectations and confidence ahead of tomorrow’s match.
Susic writes for Germanijak, while Josip Juranovic was at Celtic he gave a very accurate reading of the defender’s situation leading up to his January 2023 transfer to Union Berlin.
Hamish: What is the thoughts, is this still a game that Dinamo think that they will win?
IAS: No, all opposite. I think that everybody in Zagreb, are really, you know a few months ago when Scotland came to Zagreb (the recent Nations League 1-1 draw) everybody expected to win, Croatia was the favourite in that match.
We all thought, ‘We love those guys, we’re going to win in that match. And in this game that is coming up, I think that a lot of media as well as supporters, they are, I don’t know they are not so, they lack experience but also some sort of joy (expectation) ahead of this big match because they think that Celtic is a better team, they think that Celtic is a quicker team and they are afraid.
You saw what happened to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League when they played against a much quicker team in (Bayern) Munich. I’m not saying that Celtic is like Bayern but if Bayern can score nine goals I think that Celtic can score as well, at least three or maybe more. I hope not.
Susic continued in a similar pessimistic theme ‘the mood isn’t usual, Dinamo is struggling in the league) listing injuries to first choice players which seems genuine.
“Everyone is scared, they know how fast Celtic are, I’m 100% they do not want to watch this much against Celtic, it would be better to play this match in January”.
No one at Celtic will be reading too much into reports of problems at Dinamo but there is no denying that there is a far more realistic prospect of Celtic winning a point or three than away to Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta.
?BOOOM!?
As per our sources, @PSG_English is interested in @gnkdinamo midfielder Martin Baturina. Transfer fee would be around €25m.
MORE??https://t.co/T7f18HxaO9— Ižak Ante Su?i? (@IASucic) December 2, 2024
