UEFA Champions League

Dinamo Zagreb v Celtic: Maeda the main man and back 8/1 Bet Builder

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is all smiles when being interviewed after a game by the side of the pitch
Back Brendan Rodgers' Celtic to get something from the game in Zagreb

Paul Higham is backing a stalemate in Celtic's trip to Dinamo Zagreb, where he's also got a 3/14.00 goalscorer fancy and an 8/19.00 player props Bet Builder worth considering...


Football... Only Bettor. Listen to the latest episode now.


Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic
Tuesday 10 December, 17:45 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 2

Both Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb are just about in the all-important top 24 of the new Champions League table, but both are in the bottom five slots so could badly do with a win to boost their prospects.

Only Dortmund have beaten Celtic in the Champions League this season - while Zagreb have also lost to BVB but also been hammered by fellow Germans Bayern Munich, leaving them just a point behind Tuesday's opponents.

Brendan Rodgers' side haven't tasted defeat at all since that Dortmund thrashing at the start of October, while their only other away game in the competition so far was a creditable 0-0 draw at Serie A challengers Atalanta.

And with Dinamo's best form coming on the road, Celtic can travel to Croatia's capital full of confidence as 5/42.25 favourites for what would be a huge three points.

The hosts are 21/103.10 on the back of five games without a win and just one win in their past seven home games in the Champions League proper. And you can't rule out the draw here at 13/53.60 especially if Rodgers opts to go more safety first.

But he'd be wise to attack here, with Dinamo's dodgy home form and dodgy defence that's conceded 15 goals already in five games in the competition - although with 10 conceded Celtic have the worst defensive record in the top 20 in the table.

So both teams to score at 6/101.60 will be popular after landing in four of Celtic's five games, and under 2.5 goals is a very interesting betting heat, an early goal and it could really go off, but I'd back the unders at 1/12.00 as both teams know the importance of this one so won't want to give it away.

And it's along those same lines that we'll back the draw, which both teams will possibly settle for the longer the game goes on.


Maeda the man to back in Bet Builder


Sandro Kulenovic has got five Champions League goals for Dinamo this season and is 13/53.60 to score anytime, with Kyogo Furuhashi leading that market at 17/102.70 despite scoring just once in the competition so far.

Daizen Maeda looks more of a specialist with three of his five goals this season coming in the Champions League, so he'd have preference at 3/14.00 to add to his goals tally.

Some players are just a bit more suited to European football and Maeda fits that bill here.

For a player props Bet Builder that we always like to do in these games, we'll stick with Maeda but back him for 1+ shot on target at 8/111.73 as a safer play to kick us off.

Dario Spikic is an interesting one for Dinamo, as he's only come off the bench for short cameos the last two games yet had four attempts at goal with three hitting the taraget.

One of those came against Dortmund, and in his only Champions League start against Slovan Bratislava he got both his attempts on target and scored a goal. We'll back him for 1+ shot on target here at 11/102.11 and feel reasonably confident even if he starts on the bench.

And we'll finish with a fouls portion and back Celtic's Belgian midfielder Arne Engels for 2+ fouls at 7/52.40. He's had a foul in every Champions League game so far and two away in Dortmund - Zagreb won't match that atmosphere but it'll be lively enough to present decent conditions to land this one.


Now read the rest of our midweek Champions League previews & tips from our Betfair experts


Recommended bets

New Customers can get £50 in free bets!

Available to new customers only. Place a £10 bet on the Betfair Sportsbook and you will receive £50 in free bets to use on Bet Builders and Accas! Opt-in here and T&cs apply.

Prices quoted in copy are correct at time of publication but liable to change.

Upcoming Fixtures Across All Leagues

Mexico vs South Africa
View predictions

Korea Rep vs Czechia
View predictions

Canada vs Bosnia
View predictions

United States vs Paraguay
View predictions

Qatar vs Switzerland
View predictions

Brazil vs Morocco
View predictions

Haiti vs Scotland
View predictions

Australia vs Türkiye
View predictions