Dinamo Zagreb — Fenerbahce : Match Preview and Prediction for September 24,2025

Team Overview and Title Aspirations

Under the guidance of Mario Kovacevic, Dinamo Zagreb aims to reclaim the Croatian league title this season. They narrowly missed out on the championship last season, ceding the title to Rijeka due to an inferior head-to-head record.

Coaching Change and Pre-season Form

During the offseason, the club saw a coaching change as Sandro Perkovic departed Zagreb for an opportunity with Armenian side Noah in the Champions League qualifiers, paving the way for a new head coach.

Squad Strength and Recent Performance

Recently, under the new coach, they secured a 2-0 victory against Hajduk in Split in a behind-closed-doors match, showcasing impeccable defensive organization. The squad boasts significant strength and experience, featuring players like Théophile-Catherine, Miha Zajc (a former Fenerbahçe player), Dion Beljo, Gabriel Vidović (formerly of Bayern Munich), and ex-Milan midfielder Ismaël Bennacer.

Current League Standing and Key Absences

The team is well-balanced, currently leading the Croatian championship by three points, having conceded only four goals in seven league matches. This strong home form at Maksimir suggests they are well-equipped to secure points against Fenerbahçe. For this match, Pierre-Gabriel and Torrente will be unavailable for the hosts, as they are not registered for the tournament.

Team Status and Recent Struggles

Fenerbahçe is perceived as a moderate favorite, primarily due to the star power within their Istanbul-based squad. However, the presence of renowned players doesn’t always guarantee cohesive play, especially given that the ‘Yellow Canaries’ recently parted ways with their coach following a Champions League qualification defeat to Benfica (0-0, 0-1).

The New Manager: Domenico Tedesco

José Mourinho bid farewell to the Turkish vice-champions, only to take charge of their European conquerors a few weeks later under unforeseen circumstances. Domenico Tedesco (formerly of Spartak Moscow, the Belgian national team, and Schalke) stepped in to replace the Portuguese coach. Tedesco is known for making strong initial impacts, but over the course of full seasons, he has yet to prove himself as a consistently stable and result-driven specialist.

Current Form and Squad Challenges

Under Tedesco, Fenerbahçe remains unbeaten so far, but after a 1-0 Super Lig victory against Trabzonspor, they have recorded two frustrating draws: a 2-2 home draw against Alanyaspor and a 1-1 derby draw against Kasımpaşa. Against Kasımpaşa, Tedesco’s men even squandered a lead while playing with a man advantage for an entire half. While their roster features big names, coach Tedesco still has considerable work ahead to fine-tune the team’s playing style and cohesion. Against Dinamo, the visitors will be without the suspended Talisca, key forward Jhon Durán, as well as unregistered players Berkan, Becão, Emre Mor, Fall, Yandaş, Elmaz, and Álvarez. The new Fenerbahçe coach clearly faces significant squad management challenges.