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Played
September 14, 2011 7:45 PM BST
Stadion Maksimir — Zagreb
Referee: S. Moen
Attendance: 27055
September 14, 2011 7:45 PM BST
Stadion Maksimir — Zagreb
Referee: S. Moen
Attendance: 27055
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| Dinamo Zagreb | 15.00 | 101.00 | 11.50 | 61.00 | 11.00 | 11.50 | 40.00 | 12.50 | 11.00 |
| Draw | 6.50 | 7.50 | 5.50 | 11.00 | 5.50 | 5.80 | 6.00 | 5.60 | 5.50 |
| Real Madrid | 1.20 | 1.02 | 1.25 | 1.05 | 1.29 | 1.23 | 1.10 | 1.29 | 1.25 |
Dinamo Zagreb - Real Madrid Preview: Two sides meet for first ever time in Champions League opener
The two teams clash in their first ever competitive match against each other, as the Spanish face a tricky test in the Croatian capital with Jose Mourinho watching from the stands
By Martin Macdonald
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
Dinamo Zagreb (4-4-2): Kelava; Tonel, Vida, Cufre, Ibanez; Calello, Leko, Sammir, Badelj; Beciraj, Rukavina |
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Dinamo Zagreb currently have three first-team players out injured. Arijan Ademi is sidelined with a knee ligament problem, while Mehmed Alispahic is currently shelved with a broken arm, and club captain Igor Biscan is recovering after undergoing ankle surgery. The Croatian side will also be without influential defender Josip Simunic, who is suspended for the first match, and young starlet Sime Vrsaljko, who is serving a three-game ban.
| Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Coentrao; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema |
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Jose Mourinho currently has a favoured first XI available, so expect him to kick off his Champions League campaign by fielding his strongest team. Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop have still to make their Real Madrid debuts since their summer transfers, and remain on the sidelines with a back injury and a knee injury respectively. Sami Khedira is still out of action after suffering a thigh muscle injury against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Copa. Meanwhile, the Portuguese coach himself is serving a touchline ban and will not be in the technical area.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
- This will be the first time the two sides have met in a competitive fixture.
- Dinamo Zagreb's last five Champions League campaigns came to an end in the third qualifying round. The Croatians have progressed past three preliminary rounds to get to the group stage this season.
- Krunoslav Jurcic's side are unbeaten at the Stadion Maksimir in 2011.
- Dinamo are celebrating their centenary year this campaign, having being founded in April 26, 1911.
- Real Madrid's only European trip to Croatia ended in defeat when they lost 3-1 to HNK Rijeka 27 years ago.
- Madrid ended a run of six successive last-16 exits when they made it through to last season's semi-finals, where they were eliminated by arch rivals Barcelona.
- The Spanish side have never once failed to make it out of the Champions League group stage.
- Iker Casillas (pictured right) has made more appearances in the Champions League than any other goalkeeper.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Dinamo Zagreb 0-4 Real Madrid
- 18.06 %
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Dinamo Zagreb 0-3 Real Madrid
- 16.72 %
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Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 Real Madrid
- 11.7 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 22 Nov 2011 | Real Madrid 6 - Dinamo Zagreb 2 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 14 Sep 2011 | Dinamo Zagreb 0 - Real Madrid 1 |
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Dinamo Zagreb
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| 7 Dec 2011 | Dinamo Zagreb 1 - Olympique Lyonnais 7 | UCL |
| 22 Nov 2011 | Real Madrid 6 - Dinamo Zagreb 2 | UCL |
| 2 Nov 2011 | Ajax 4 - Dinamo Zagreb 0 | UCL |
| 18 Oct 2011 | Dinamo Zagreb 0 - Ajax 2 | UCL |
| 27 Sep 2011 | Olympique Lyonnais 2 - Dinamo Zagreb 0 | UCL |
Real Madrid
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| 13 May 2012 | Real Madrid 4 - Mallorca 1 | LIGA |
| 5 May 2012 | Granada 1 - Real Madrid 2 | LIGA |
| 2 May 2012 | Athletic de Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 3 | LIGA |
| 29 Apr 2012 | Real Madrid 3 - Sevilla 0 | LIGA |
| 25 Apr 2012 | Real Madrid 2 - FC Bayern München 1 | UCL |
| Returns: | Dinamo Zagreb £1010.00 |
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| Returns: | Draw £110.00 |
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| Returns: | Real Madrid £12.90 |
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Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
| 30 | Ivan Keleva | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Luis Ibáñez | Defender |
| 13 | Tonel | Defender |
| 24 | Domagoj Vida | Defender |
| 5 | Adrian Callelo | Midfielder |
| 7 | Jerko Leko | Midfielder |
| 8 | Mateo Kovačić | Midfielder |
| 11 | Ivan Tomecak | Midfielder |
| 10 | Sammir | Midfielder |
| 16 | Milan Badelj | Midfielder |
| 55 | Ante Rukavina | Striker |
| 12 | Filip Loncaric | Goalkeeper |
| 28 | Ante Puljic | Defender |
| 23 | Nikola Pokrivac | Midfielder |
| 77 | Pedro Morales | Midfielder |
| 18 | Mario Šitum | Striker |
| 21 | Fatos Beciraj | Striker |
| 99 | Ivan Krstanović | Striker |
| 1 | Iker Casillas | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Ricardo Carvalho | Defender |
| 3 | Pepe | Defender |
| 4 | Sergio Ramos | Defender |
| 12 | Marcelo | Defender |
| 15 | Fabio Coentrao | Defender |
| 10 | Mesut Özil | Midfielder |
| 14 | Xabi Alonso | Midfielder |
| 22 | Á. di María | Midfielder |
| 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Striker |
| 9 | Karim Benzema | Striker |
| 13 | Adán | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Arbeloa | Defender |
| 19 | Raphaël Varane | Defender |
| 6 | Sami Khedira | Midfielder |
| 21 | Callejón | Striker |
| 24 | Lassana Diarra | Midfielder |
| 20 | Gonzalo Higuaín | Striker |
| Milan Badelj | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 16 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The vice-captain and the creative force in the midfield. The young Croatian is undoubtedly talented, with exceptional vision and precisional passing, but he will have his work cut out for him up against Xabi Alonso and Fabio Coentrao. If the home side can grab a famous victory, chances are that he will be the main influence.
| Cristiano Ronaldo | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 7 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
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| 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
The Portuguese averaged a goal every other game last season in the Champions League and do not be surprised if his already scintillating league scoring form pours over into Europe. Be aware, Dinamo Zagreb.
The Croatian side are unbeaten at home in 2011 as the Stadion Maksimir has become somewhat of a fortress. However, the hosts have not played a team the calibre of Real Madrid in their unbeaten run, so expect the Spanish side to pull off a professional Champions League away performance. Zagreb are by no means minnows and expect a victory of no more than a couple of goals, with Madrid making a solid start to their European campaign.
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
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Mario Gomez
Striker Bayern Munich |
13 | 0 |
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
10 | 2 |
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Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
7 | 0 |
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Didier Drogba
Striker Chelsea |
6 | 0 |
