After a break for international football, Champions League Gruop E gets back to action on Wednesday, as Red Bull Salzburg play host to Dinamo Zagreb in the first game of a double-header.
Set to meet again in Croatia next week, the teams are separated by a point in the standings, having both denied group favourites Chelsea victory.
A week after getting their latest Champions League campaign underway with a 1-1 draw against Italian champions AC Milan, RB Salzburg aimed to build on that start by causing an upset at Stamford Brige.
However, the Austrian champions were forced to settle for another single-point haul, as they came from behind to hold Chelsea, with Swiss star Noah Okafor again scoring their only goal.
Sitting two points adrift of leaders Milan but still above the Blues in the table, Salzburg remain very much in the mix to reach the knockout stage in successive campaigns, especially if they fare well in two encounters with Dinam Zagreb over the coming days.
Salzburg have won seven of their 10 league matches so far, which has left them at the top of the table, four point clear of LASK after drawing with their closest contenders on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb arrive in Austria leading their third Group E opponents by a point following a win and a draw from their first two matches.
After causing an upset in the Champions League’s opening week by beating 2021 winners Chelsea, Dinamo set out for another scalp shortly before the international break, as they met Milan at San Siro, but they unfortunately lost 3-1.
Dinamo return on the road this week still looking for a first win in the group stage since November 1998. They have failed to record a victory in 19 subsequent attempts, losing 16 times in the process.
Red Bull Salzburg vs Dinamo Zagreb head to head
These two teams have previously met on six occasions across two competitions, where Salzburg have claimed three victories while Dinamo have won one, and they have drawn twice. Salzburg have scored 14 goals and conceded eight. In their last meeting, Dinamo won 2-1 away after extra time in the Champions League.
Dinamo Zagreb 1-2 Salzburg 04/08/09
Salzburg 4-2 Dinamo Zagreb 23/10/14
Dinamo Zagreb 1-5 Salzburg 06/11/14
Dinamo Zagreb 1-1 Salzburg 16/08/16
Salzburg 1-2(E) Dinamo Zagreb 24/08/16
Red Bull Salzburg latest home form
RB Salzburg have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their six most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with LASK in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded three.
Salzburg 2-0 Austria Klagenfurt 20/08/22
Salzburg 2-0 WSG Tirol 3/09/22
Salzburg 1-1 AC Milan 06/09/22
Salzburg 1-1 Rapid Vienna 18/09/22
Salzburg 1-1 LASK 01/10/22
Red Bull Salzburg latest away form
RB Salzburg have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Chelsea in their last away game in the Champions League. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded just one.
Hartberg 0-2 Salzburg 06/08/22
Austria Lustenau 0-6 Salzburg 27/08/22
Gurten 0-3 Salzburg 30/08/22
Ried 0-3 Salzburg 10/09/22
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg 14/09/22
Dinamo Zagreb latest home form
Dinamo Zagreb have recently been on a good run of form at home, having won each of their eight most recent matches. They managed to defeat Slaven Koprivnica 4-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 17 goals and conceded five.
Dinamo Zagreb 5-2 Osijek 20/08/22
Dinamo Zagreb (E)4-1 Bodo/Glimt 24/08/22
Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 Rijeka 02/09/22
Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Chelsea 06/09/22
Dinamo Zagreb 4-1 Slaven Koprivnica 01/10/22
Dinamo Zagreb latest away form
Dinamo Zagreb have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Borinci Jarmina 4-0 in their last away game in the League Cup. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded five.
Sibenik 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb 28/08/22
HNK Gorica 0-1 Dinamo Zagreb 10/09/22
AC Milan 3-1 Dinamo Zagreb 14/09/22
Lokomotiva Zagreb 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb 18/09/22
Borinci Jarmina 0-4 Dinamo Zagreb 27/09/22
Red Bull Salzburg news
Fernando has been involved in eight goals in eight Bundesliga matches so far, but the Brazilian forward will be sidelined on Wednesday due to a muscular problem.
Noah Okafor should once again join forces with Benjamin Sseko up front, while Dijon Kameri is yet to return from a shoulder injury suffered last month.
Dinamo Zagreb news
Dinamo should name a similar starting XI in Austria to the one that started at the weekend, but with Bruno Petkovic returning to the lineup, joining Mislav Orsic in attack.
Josip Misic should play a screening role in front of the back three, as Damir Krznar reverts to a more defensive setup.
Prediction and Odds
Dinamo Zagreb head into the contest in fine form and are sure to push the hosts all the way looking to put three points on the board.
However, Salzburg can continue their unbeaten run as they inch closer to a spot in the last 16 with a win on Wednesday on home turf.
Odds: 1 2.22 X 2.05 2 2.30
Probable outcomes
Salzburg 1-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Salzburg 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Salzburg 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb
Salzburg 1-1 Dinamo Zagreb
Salzburg 0-1 Dinamo Zagreb
