Cards look likely when Dinamo Zagreb host West Ham in the Europa League on Thursday night, according to our Andy Schooler…
“With Dinamo having committed the most fouls in Champions League qualifying – they averaged 14 per game – this could be a busy night for the French official.”
Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham
Thursday 16 September, 17:45
Live on BT Sport 2
Over 4.5 cards in this game is priced up at 13/8 and that simply looks too big.
Referee Ruddy Buquet is a strict one – he’s shown over 4.5 cards in 14 of his last 19 UEFA club competition appointments.
And with Dinamo having committed the most fouls in Champions League qualifying – they averaged 14 per game – this could be a busy night for the French official.
West Ham’s discipline has admittedly been good so far in the Premier League but this is their first foray in Europe in five years and they will soon find out what is allowed domestically is often frowned upon by UEFA officials.
Whoever David Moyes puts out, there will be several players making a rare appearance at this level and I suspect they will see their fouls counts go up.
Those who do have plenty of European experience include Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal but both were regular card collectors for Slavia Prague in campaigns gone by – Soucek has five cards in his last 11 European appearances; Coufal six in 15.
Throw in a hostile crowd at the Stadion Maksimir and there looks every chance that Buquet is flashing his cards again.
Click here for Kevin Hatchard’s in-depth preview of Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham
Source: Betfair Premier League
