UEFA Europa League · League Stage - 4 
Our pick Home win Missed
Sunderland’s home edge puts Dinamo Zagreb under pressure
Sunderland sit nine places and three points above Dinamo Zagreb after three Europa League matches. The visitors need to upset the hosts’ unbeaten start to trouble the early standings.
📍 Stadium of Light
Preview written:
All League phase, matchday 4 matches
Match report
Final result: Sunderland 0-2 Dinamo Zagreb.
Match statistics (home team first). Shots: 17–9; Shots on target: 7–4; Corners: 5–3; Expected goals: 1.64–1.32.
Goals
- 22' Luka Stojkovic · Dinamo Zagreb
- 39' Dion Drena Beljo · Luka Stojkovic · Dinamo Zagreb
Cards
- 25' Niko Galešić · Dinamo Zagreb
- 28' Granit Xhaka · Sunderland
- 36' Kevin Danso · Sunderland
- 46' Lukas Kacavenda · Dinamo Zagreb
- 55' Trai Hume · Sunderland
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: L. Stojković (Dinamo Zagreb) 9
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Sunderland · 4-2-3-1
- 22R. RoefsG
- 12T. MeunierD
- 4K. DansoD
- 15O. AldereteD
- 6D. MethalieD
- 34G. XhakaM
- 29Jules AhokaM
- 10N. AnguloM
- 11C. RiggM
- 39M. FofanaM
- 18W. IsidorF
Coach: R. Le Bris
Dinamo Zagreb · 4-3-3
- 24D. KotarskiG
- 25M. ValinčićD
- 15N. GalešićD
- 36Sergi DomínguezD
- 3B. GodaD
- 21M. LisicaM
- 27J. MišićM
- 10L. StojkovićM
- 80L. KačavendaF
- 9D. BeljoF
- 99M. OršićF
Coach: J. Leko
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 1.0 | 1.3 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Sunderland | 3 | +2 | 7 |
| 18 | Dinamo Zagreb | 3 | -1 | 4 |
Absences
Sunderland
- Out J. Angulo · Off the roster
- Out D. Ballard · Muscle Injury
- Out A. Browne · Off the roster
- Out M. Ellborg · Off the roster
- Out R. Mundle · Knee Injury
- Out J. Ta Bi · Off the roster
- Out C. Talbi · Off the roster
- Doubtful N. Mukiele · Face Injury
Dinamo Zagreb
- Out S. McKenna · Inactive
- Out R. Mudrazija · Off the roster
- Out I. Nevistic · Off the roster
- Out N. Nsoki · Off the roster
- Out P. Tabinas · Off the roster
- Out F. Topic · Off the roster
- Doubtful S. Radeljic · Inactive
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Open game
- Expected goals (model)
- 1.64 – 1.22
- Double chance
- 12 · 75%1X 72% · X2 53%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 55%Over 1.5: 79% · Over 3.5: 32%
- Both teams score
- 58%
- Clean sheet
- 29% – 19%Sunderland–Dinamo Zagreb
- Half-time result
- X · 40%1 36% · 2 24%
- Half-time / full-time
- 1/1 · 28%2/2 16% · X/1 15%
- Expected corners
- 9.25.1 – 4.1 · Over 9.5: 44%
- Expected cards
- 3.71.8 – 1.9 · Over 3.5: 51%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
Sunderland have conceded just two goals in three Europa League matches, the most striking sign of the challenge facing Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland set the early pace
The fourth matchday of the Europa League league stage brings together sides separated by nine places and three points. Sunderland are ninth of 36 with seven points, while Dinamo Zagreb are 18th with four. A home win would strengthen Sunderland’s position; for Dinamo, a positive result would help close the gap.
One unbeaten, one needing a response
Sunderland have won twice and drawn once in this competition, scoring four and conceding two. Their latest European outing ended in a draw, leaving them unbeaten in three. At home, they have won their only Europa League match, scoring once without conceding.
Dinamo’s three-match European record is less settled: a draw, a win and then a defeat, with three goals scored and four conceded. Their latest match ended in defeat, though their only away fixture in the competition was a goalless draw. These figures cover three Europa League matches only, not either club’s overall season form.
Team availability could test both squads
Sunderland are without J. Angulo, D. Ballard, A. Browne, M. Ellborg, R. Mundle, J. Ta Bi and C. Talbi; N. Mukiele is questionable. Dinamo Zagreb are without S. McKenna, R. Mudrazija, I. Nevistic, N. Nsoki, P. Tabinas and F. Topic, while S. Radeljic is questionable.
A chance to make the difference
The contrasting European records frame the contest: Sunderland have protected their home goal in their one match there, while Dinamo have yet to score away in the competition. The visitors have still kept two clean sheets across their three Europa League games, so Sunderland will need to turn their home advantage into sustained attacking pressure.
Our prediction
Sunderland’s unbeaten run and stronger position in the league-stage table make them the likelier side to control the match. PreviaXI’s model also leans towards the hosts, with Sunderland projected to create more scoring threat. Dinamo can make it competitive, but a narrow home victory looks the call.
Sunderland 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb
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