DINAMO ZAGREB v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

Dinamo Zagreb v AC Milan will be a crucial turning point for both squads at Maksimir Stadium. Lots of different possibilities regarding qualification to the Last 16 of the Champions League will be played out on Matchday 5 of Group E. Coming off the back of two defeats against Chelsea, the same results but with very different circumstances, Stefano Pioli's Rossoneri, having slid into third place, will have to aim for all three points without losing themselves in the mathematics of qualification. AC Milan only have four points – the same tally as the Croatians – and despite the 3-1 win in the second game, the Rossoneri will have to account for opponents who, at home, prove very difficult to break down, as they showed in against Chelsea (1-0) and the draw against FC Salzburg (1-1). More generally, including all European competitions and qualification rounds, Dinamo have only lost one of their last 13 home games (7W, 5D), against West Ham in the Europa League back in September 2021. Since then, they have five wins and three draws. However, this record will not deter Pioli's side, as the Rossoneri have won on both previous trips to Zagreb in Europe: in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1973 and the qualifying stage of the Champions League in 2000. 

DANGERS OF HIGH PRESS AND DOMINANCE IN AERIAL DUELS CAN'T BE UNDERESTIMATED
So, mistakes can't be made: this is the imperative in the Rossoneri camp. Dinamo Zagreb come into the match with one point in their last three games in Europe, from the draw at home to FC Salzburg: Ante Čačić's boys prefer to play on the counter and press high. In fact, the Croatian side are third bottom for offensive recoveries (16, one fewer than Shakhtar and Sporting) in this season's Champions League and are only one of two teams (level with Sporting) to still not have scored following an offensive recovery. Another aspect highlighting their opportunistic style of play is their position in last place for the percentage of tackles won (46%, compared to AC Milan's 53%) in the first four games of the group stage. In contrast, Čačić's side stand out for their ability to intercept aerial balls: 69 duels won so far, only ten fewer than Liverpool, but 40 more than the Rossoneri. 

ORŠIĆ AND PETKOVIĆ, THE GOALSCORING PARTNERSHIP
In the moment of truth in Zagreb, the spotlight will be cast upon the duo of Petković and Oršić, the axis that created the goal at San Siro, in the eleventh minute of the second half, momentarily reducing the deficit to 2-1. The most notable presence is Mislav Oršić, being Dinamo Zagreb's top scorer in Europe's top competition, with at least twice as many goals as any other player who has played for the team: six goals for the Croatian, four of which have come against Italian sides (three against Atalanta and one against AC Milan). The Dinamo centre-forward looks to score wherever he is playing: 10 shots in total in the 2022/23 Champions League (twice as many as any other player in the team), three from close-range and five from distance. And aiming to help him find the net is Bruno Petković, who has provided both assists for Oršić in this campaign (against AC Milan and Chelsea) and also the only player for Dinamo Zagreb to have provided assists in the tournament so far. 

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