NK Dinamo Zagreb v Sheriff Tiraspol
Football : Champions League, 3rd Qualifying Round
Wednesday 4 August 2010 - Kickoff 7pm

The tie is 1-1

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NK Dinamo Zagreb

Dinamo Zagreb should feel confident that they can complete the job in this tie at home after coming away from Moldova with a 1-1 draw last w4ek.

However, the Croatian side should also be well aware that they lost to Salzburg at this stage exactly 1 year ago. They had also come back home with a 1-1 scoreline on that occasion before faliing 1-2.

The Croats will also be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 1-2 result at the weekend and return to winning ways at home.

Zagreb knocked out Koper in the last round 5-4 on aggtegate, much of the damage coming in that game in the 5-1 win here in the first leg.

Dinamo will need to reverse recent trends in their home games in Europe as they have now lost 4 of their last 5 there, 1 of those being the Champions League Qualifying game with Salzburg, and the others all coming in the Europa League.

Dinamo played 7 games in Europe at home last season, winning 3 and losing 4, and all of the wins came by 2 goals or more.

I am not too familiar with any team news at this moment.

Sheriff Tiraspol

Sheriff are the reigning Champions of Moldova but have failed to move beyond this stage of the Champions League in each of the last 9 seasons.

Once again they will face a tough test as they look to overcome the 1-1 draw at home last week. Sheriff have played 2 League games in the National Division in Moldova and remain undefeated although it was only a 0-0 draw they could manage at Olimpia over the weekend.

The Moldovans will have to reverse some recent history in this competition if they are to progress as they have only won 1 of their last 7 games. The side have lost 5 of their last 7 games away from home in the Champions League, but have not been embarrassed, losing 4 of those games by a single goal. They also played a couple of games in the Europa League last season and were only defeat 2-1 at Twente and 1-0 in Fenerbache.

Team news is again sketchy at this time of the season, especially in the European ties.

Prediction

Dinamo Zagreb are rightly the favourites for this game but they should not be taking it lightly, especially considering their recent form in European competition at home.

The crowd do provide a strong support as expected, but they will have to cope with the expectation levels that are sure to follow after the 1-1 from last week.

Sheriff have proved a tough nut to crack with close defeats in the last couple of seasons at places like Twente, Fenerbache and Olympiakos. They have the chance to make some history here by progressing to the furthest round of the Champions League in their history and are sure to make it tough.

I have to favour the home side to do enough to win this tie and progress through to the final stage before the lucrative group stages of the competition. Sheriff may make it tough but could leave gaps in the defence as the game progresses as they need to score here.

I will play Dinamo to win the game and my single bet for the game will be the home team to win to nil @ 2.28 at Betsson.

The Pick :

Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Sheriff Tiraspol

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Dinamo Zagreb WIN TO NIL @ 2.28 (Betsson)