Right time for Celtic with Dinamo in disarray?

Arijan Ademi is an injury doubt, but Sandro Kulenovic will be key for Dinamo

Champions League: Dinamo Zagreb v Celtic

Venue: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Date: Tuesday, 10 December Kick-off: 17:45 GMT

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Scotland Extra and BBC Radio 5 Live Extra; live text commentary on BBC Sport online.

There is plenty of cause for optimism for Celtic when analysing the strength of their next European opponents because, not to put too fine a point on it, Dinamo Zagreb are in a bad way.

Sometimes you can spin statistics to suit the narrative you want to pursue. But, in Dinamo's case, the picture is a pretty bleak one whichever way you slice it.

No wins in five in all competitions, no wins in five home games since the end of September, no wins in their latest four home Champions League games and just two in their latest 13 at the Maksimir Stadium in the same competition.

Hardly the form of a side to be feared. Add to that an injury list of eye-watering proportions, which had head coach Nenad Bjelic claiming at the weekend he only had 14 fit players for Tuesday's game, and Celtic supporters could be forgiven for travelling to Zagreb with a genuine belief they can record a first away win in the Champions League since the victory over Anderlecht in September 2017.

So is there anything to suggest the Croatian champions can record a first home win in this season's Champions League?

Reasons to be hopeful?

Marko Pjaca scored a hat-trick in Dinamo's latest win over Celtic

For what it's worth, history is on Dinamo's side. In the six previous meetings between the teams, the home side has won on each occasion, most recently in the 2014-15 Europa League group stage.

Ronny Deila's men were ultimately edged out in a topsy-turvy seven-goal thriller, with the teenager, Marko Pjaca, netting a hat-trick. The winger went on to join Juventus for more than £25m but is now back at Dinamo, now aged 29, hoping to torment Celtic once again.

Similarly, Arijan Ademi, another survivor from that game, is also back at the club after a spell in China. However, having returned from injury on Friday in the draw with Slaven Belupo, the midfielder had to go off after 19 minutes and is one of several who could miss out.

Bjelic remains positive his weakened squad can still hurt Celtic, who are a point better off in the standings, and give themselves a chance of qualifying, as well as overcoming the six-point deficit on domestic league leaders Rijeka and eternal rivals Hajduk Split to claim a record 26th title in 32 years.

Celtic know a thing or two about domestic dominance, but Dinamo take that to a different level.

Selection issues

As a result, like Celtic, Dinamo have been regular Champions League group-stage participants. Nonetheless, on the eight occasions they reached that phase, they failed to progress.

Clearly, though, Celtic cannot afford to take them lightly. A home draw with Monaco, allied to away wins over Slovan Bratislava and RB Salzburg, mean a win over Celtic could well be enough for a play-off place and, with games against Arsenal and Milan to come, they may well feel this represents their best opportunity to get another win on the board.

Key to their hopes of success will be Sandro Kulenovic, who has 14 goals for the season, including two against Slovan and one against RB Salzburg.

With fellow striker and Croatia international Bruno Petkovic among those likely to miss out, the onus will fall upon the 25-year-old to get the goals required.

First-choice goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic was back on the bench on Friday after injury and Bjelic will hope to be able to call upon him, despite the 26-year-old becoming the first player to concede nine goals in the Champions League as they lost their opening game to Bayern Munich.

Despite the absences, there is still a degree of talent in the Dinamo squad, but Celtic could be getting them at just the right time.