All to play for as Dinamo Zagreb host PAOK
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Article summary
NK Dinamo Zagreb and PAOK FC will do battle for a UEFA Europa League round of 32 place in their final Group D fixture, with Villarreal CF already certain to take one of the top spots.
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NK Dinamo Zagreb and PAOK FC will do battle for a UEFA Europa League round of 32 place in their final Group D fixture, with Villarreal CF already certain to take one of the top spots in the section.
• Villarreal's 3-0 win against Dinamo on Matchday 5 means they are certain to finish first or second, regardless of the result of their game against eliminated Club Brugge KV. Any winner in this game would join them in the round of 32, with Dinamo bowing out in the event of a draw.
Previous meetings
• Serbia striker Vladimir Ivić got the only goal as PAOK won 1-0 in the sides' first meeting on Matchday 2, with the Greek side prevailing in their maiden fixture against a Croatian side.
• It was Dinamo's seventh game against a Greek club, with their record now reading W2 D1 L4 (W2 D1 L0 in Zagreb). Those games in Croatia have resulted in the home side scoring nine goals to their visitors' two.
Match background
• Dinamo are competing in their fourth successive group stage, having missed out on this phase only twice since the introduction of the format in 2004/05. However, they have yet to qualify for a place in the round of 32 via the group stage.
• PAOK are one goal shy of scoring their 100th in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League; this is their 74th game in the two competitions.
Team facts
• Dinamo are coached by Bosnian-born Vahid Halilhodžić, once a striker for Yugoslavia. Having shone at FK Velež, he spent the latter part of his playing career in France with FC Nantes – winning the 1982/83 Ligue 1 title – and Paris Saint-Germain FC. He would lead the latter to French Cup success as a coach in 2004. The much-travelled trainer took the helm in Zagreb in August.
• Halilhodžić took on Greek opposition during his time as LOSC Lille Métropole coach, with his side beating Olympiacos FC 3-1 at home before losing 2-1 in Greece in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League group stage.
• Pavlos Dermitzakis left his role as PAOK head coach following a 1-0 loss to Panathinaikos FC on 16 October. His assistant Ioakim Havos has been in charge since.
