Villarreal vs Dinamo Zagreb Odds & Prediction – Europa League Quarterfinals Leg 2
- Villarreal host Dinamo Zagreb in the second leg of their Europa League quarterfinal tie on Thursday, April 15th at 3:00 pm EST
- Villarreal are going into this match with seven consecutive Europa League victories and a one goal lead, providing them a massive advantage
- Currently, the heavy favorites to win the second leg are Villarreal with moneyline odds of -210
In the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal dual, the only thing that separated Villarreal and Dinamo Zagreb was a Gerard Moreno penalty. His 44th minute spot-kick gave Villarreal the lead and they managed to hang on and finish the clean sheet.
However, after a shocking defeat at home to Osasuna in La Liga, albeit with a rotated lineup, some pundits might be wondering if Villarreal has the legs to hold off Zagreb in the second leg in Spain. Nonetheless, Villarreal are on their winningest run in Europe in their club’s history which makes them the easy favorites.
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Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb did manage to bounce back from their disappointing loss to Villarreal as they defeated NK Lokomotiva in the Croatian domestic league. For Zagreb, it might be challenging to face teams of such ranging skill levels in back-to-back matches. Additionally, working against them is the fact the Croatians have lost to Spanish opponents the last six times they have played them. Despite this, Villarreal only have a one-goal advantage which will surely make for an interesting contest.
Villarreal vs Dinamo Zagreb Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villarreal vs Dinamo Zagreb | VLR -1 (-122) | ZAG +1 (-103) | VLR -210 | ZAG +650 | DRAW +315 | Ov 2.5 (+105) | Un 2.5 (-130) |
Odds as of Apr 13
Can Gerard Moreno Create More Europa League Magic?
Gerard Moreno has been nothing short of sensational this year for Villarreal. The 29-year-old has tallied 19 goals across 24 starts for the club, while also providing a handful of assists. In Europe, he has been even better, somehow managing to bag five goals in his last four Europa League matches including the first leg of this tie. If Zagreb can manage to shut down Moreno in the middle, Daniel Parejo is really their only threatening offensive weapon left on the pitch.
Here is @UnaiEmery_'s analysis of #VillarrealOsasuna.https://t.co/bPbTlYNyI4
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) April 11, 2021
Regardless, Villarreal are an extremely tough side. Before their loss this weekend to Osasuna, they were on a six-game winning streak, featuring games both domestically and abroad. They were also level on points for sixth place in La Liga, before falling into seventh. If they cannot manage to climb back into European position on the Spanish table, this Europa League contest becomes increasingly important for Villarreal to win.
Villarreal vs Dinamo Zagreb Europa League Statistics
| 2.30 | Goals per game | 1.45 |
| 12.2 | Shots per game | 11.1 |
| 55.7% | Possession % | 46.5% |
| 85.9% | Passing % | 76.1% |
The Zagreb Cinderella Story is Soon to End
It was only a few short weeks ago that we all watched Dinamo Zagreb shock Europe in their 3-0 victory over Tottenham. Mislav Orsic put on a fabulous display and completely embarrassed Jose Mourinho and the Spurs from London. However, their opponents on Thursday will not be nearly as feeble.
💪 #MatchdayMotivation: Mislav #Oršić vs. Tottenham! 🔥🔥🔥#UEL | #DinamoZagreb | @gnkdinamo pic.twitter.com/2ch9ny9W1Q
— UEFA.com DE (@UEFAcom_de) April 8, 2021
While the Croatians only need one goal to send this game into extra time, Villarreal’s defense proved in the first leg that it will be tough to come by. But, this is not the first time Dinamo Zagreb have been counted out and proved everyone wrong. Historically, aside from the first leg, these sides have played each other in another two-legged Europa League tie back in 2010. The sides split with a win apiece, but Villarreal went through winning on aggregate 3-2.
Villarreal vs Dinamo Zagreb Best Bet
Overall, the best bet for this match is Mislav Orsic to score with odds of +400. I do think Villarreal both win this match and advance to the Europa League semifinals. However, Dinamo Zagreb are rarely held scoreless, especially in back-to-back games by the same team. The last two times this happened to them were both in a first leg, and we all witnessed what took place in the second game against Spurs.
With seasons on the line, this match has the potential to be an absolute cracker. If Dinamo Zagreb do score, I favor it to be Mislav Orsic behind the ball undoubtedly. This bet not only makes sense but has tremendous odds on the betting table.
My Pick: Mislav Orsic to score (+400)
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Josh Ricker is a freelance sports journalist, currently attending the University of Southern Maine (Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Marketing). He has recently interned with the AA Portland Sea Dogs, and his work has been featured on Fansided, as well as now here on SBD.
