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In search of a first Europa League league-phase victory at the third attempt, NEC head to Croatia on Thursday to take on Dinamo Zagreb.
The hosts got up and running with a win last time out, but their visitors are yet to get going and sit eight games without a victory.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. NEC key stats
- Dinamo Zagreb have won four of their last five games in all competitions.
- Dinamo Zagreb won the only other H2H on record in the UEFA Cup in 2008.
- NEC have scored 15 goals and conceded 16 in nine Eredivisie games so far this season.
- NEC have drawn their last four games and failed to win any of their last eight.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. NEC preview: NEC's wait for first win to continue
Dinamo Zagreb vs NEC — Tale of the Tape
| Dinamo Zagreb | vs | NEC |
|---|---|---|
| 14th | Position | 27th |
| 4 | Points | 1 |
| 1 | Goals For | 1 |
| 0 | Goals Against | 6 |
| 2 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 15th (H) | Home / Away Rank | 32nd (A) |
Dinamo Zagreb return to action on Thursday aiming to make it back-to-back victories in the Europa League and three straight wins in all competitions.
After winning Croatia's top flight for the 26th time in 2025-26, they began their continental campaign in Champions League qualifying, but after seeing off Kauno Zalgiris they fell short in a two-legged tie with Viking and bowed out, settling for a Europa League league-phase spot as a result.
The Modri have made a positive start too, keeping consecutive clean sheets and picking up four points from their first two games, firstly playing out a stalemate with Hapoel Beer Sheva before they hosted Anderlecht last week and won 1-0 thanks to Dion Beljo's goal deep into injury time after the game looked set to end as a stalemate.
He was again among the goals at the weekend as Mario Kovacevic's side returned to winning ways in HNL action, thrashing Slaven Belupo 5-1 with Beljo hitting a brace alongside goals from Daniel Rodriguez, Miha Zajc and Niko Galesic.
Now heading into a second home league-phase match in as many weeks with confidence growing, having gone second in their title defence and put a first notch in their league phase wins column last time out, Dinamo Zagreb will hope to keep buidling momentum with a victory on Thursday.
Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip looking to get up and running after a slow start on all fronts in 2026-27.
NEC are playing European football for the first time since 2008-09 this season thanks to their third-placed Eredivisie finish last time around, and they dropped into the Europa League having fallen short against Bodo/Glimt in the third round of Champions League qualifying.
Since then in August, they have managed just one win and now find themselves in an eight-match winless streak across all competitions, meaning they sit 12th in the Eredivisie on 10 points from nine games while only managing one point in their first two league-phase outings.
They started with a tough trip to Juventus and suffered a 5-0 thrashing, before hosting Levski Sofia last week and coming from behind to share the points in a 1-1 draw as Tjarron Chery levelled the scores on the hour mark.
Now on the back of a fourth consecutive draw at the weekend, having followed that up with a 2-2 at home to Fortuna Sittard thanks to Willum Thor Willumson's injury-time leveller, NEC will travel with renewed optimism and the hopes of breaking their drought with a first victory of the league phase.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. NEC form guide & betting tips
| Dinamo Zagreb | vs | NEC |
|---|---|---|
WWLWW |
Form | LDDDD |
| 14 | Goals For | 5 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 10 |
DW |
Europa League | LD |
Whispers predicts: Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 NEC
Unlike in domestic action, Dinamo Zagreb have been built on a strong defence in the early stages of the league phase, drawing 0-0 and winning 1-0 thus far. Coming up against an NEC side yet to make their mark away from home on the continent, we fancy the Croatian side to keep another clean sheet and back Both Teams to Score – No at 6/5 (2.20).
The hosts are growing into the campaign, winning four of their last five games and scoring 14 goals in that time and 23 in nine league matches, and we see them having too much for a visiting team yet to put a winning run together this term. Dinamo Zagreb are priced at 13/20 (1.65) to win the match.
Dion Beljo is certainly enjoying a hot streak as the beneficiary of much of Dinamo Zagreb's attacking threat, with the front man having scored 12 goals in eight league games so far this term after hitting 31 in 36 in 2025-26. He should again get plenty of chances with the hosts likely to dominate and play through the front man and is priced at 15/4 (4.75) to score first.
> Both Teams to Score – No at 6/5 (2.20) | Likelihood: Possible
> Dinamo Zagreb to win at 13/20 (1.65) | Likelihood: Probable
> Dion Beljo to score anytime at 15/4 (4.75) | Likelihood: Possible