Mislav Orsic gave Dinamo Zagreb a dream start in the Champions League with a sensational opening round hat-trick against Atalanta, and now the journeyman striker has a shot at downing all-conquering Manchester City.
The 26-year-old is the competition’s leading scorer heading into their daunting clash at the Etihad Stadium alongside RB Salzburg’s teenage sensation Erling Braut Haaland.
Dinamo go into their trip to City top of Group C thanks in large part to Orsic’s treble over fancied Atalanta, who are taking part in their first-ever European campaign.
That is already a big step up for a club that failed to score a single goal on their way to losing all six matches in their last group stage appearance in 2016-17.
Dinamo already have one goal more than in their previous 12 tournament matches.
Pundits in Croatia say that Nenad Bjelica’s side are ready to make an important step forward and could even fight for the second place in a group that also includes Shakhtar Donetsk, and Orsic shares that view after seeing the team get to the Europa League last 16 last season.
“We already had a great European result last season and this is only the continuation. We have everything necessary to become a presence in Europe,” he said.
Orsic is an even optimist ahead of the encounter with City.
“We all know who we are playing but that shouldn’t demotivate us,” he said.
“We badly wanted the Champions League and to compete with the best clubs and that's what we have, it’s all up to us.
“If we play to 110 percent of our abilities and catch City by surprise then anything is possible”.