Dinamo Zagreb
4 August 2026 at 19:00 BST, Croatian Dinamo Zagreb will host Lithuanian Kauno Zalgiris at the Maksimir Stadium in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
Although Dinamo needed extra time to scrape past Swiss side Thun, nobody doubts their progress to the play-off round — it is priced at around 1.05.
With 20 minutes left in the second qualifying round, Dinamo were heading out of the UEFA Champions League, but the closing spell changed everything. Thun, however, play in a more competitive league, where the champions change regularly, while Lithuania are only 45th in the UEFA coefficient rankings. Kauno Zalgiris are therefore rated significantly lower.
Dinamo turned the tie around thanks to more aggressive pressing, set pieces (they scored from a corner) and the individual quality of Moris Valincic, who struck a fine decisive goal from distance. And, of course, there was the sending-off of their opponents' centre-back and captain, Marco Burki. So it is unclear whether the Zagreb side would even be preparing for this match now. Even so, questions remain about their defending. In the match in Switzerland, Ivan Filipovic was not especially assured when coming off his line, which led to the goal conceded.
Kauno Zalgiris only just made it through to the third round, even though they were playing, as it seemed, against the Faroese champions KI Klaksvik, where it is very difficult to play football. But the Greens and Whites scored the only, decisive goal only in the 85th minute of the return leg on familiar turf in Kaunas. In the 2020s, the Lithuanian side have managed to win only 2 of their 10 away matches in European competition, against Iceland's Valur (2:1) in the previous Conference League and Kosovo's Drita (3:2) in the first round of this edition. The Kaunas side will not be able to score that many against a much better-equipped Dinamo. Even if they do not particularly want to, they will be pinned back towards their own goal and pressured with crosses until Dinamo score once, and preferably twice.
They have not met before, but it is hard to believe Dinamo will fail to win and score at least a couple of goals. The Zagreb side's defence, including at set pieces, also has lapses, so over goals suits the combo, and we will see who scores the third goal.
Erik Lambrechts (Belgium)
Matches — 9 (international fixtures, 2025-2026);
Average fouls per match — 20;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) — 3.1;
Matches with red cards — 1 out of 9;
Matches with penalties — 2 out of 9.
|
Mario Kovačević
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Ivan Filipović
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Moris Valinčić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Olof Matteo Pérez Vinlöf
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Scott Fraser McKenna
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sergi Domínguez Viloria
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Josip Mišić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luka Stojković
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Miha Zajc
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arbër Hoxha
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Dion Drena Beljo
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mateo Lisica
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Danijel Zagorac
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ivan Nevistić
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bruno Goda
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Niko Galešić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Paul Bismarck Tabinas
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stjepan Radeljić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gabriel Vidović
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lukas Kačavenda
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sven Šunta
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fran Topić
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mislav Oršić
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Smail Prevljak
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Zeljko Sopic
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Tomas Švedkauskas
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Anton Tolordava
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joris Gabriel Moutachy
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Marko Konatar
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rokas Lekiatas
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amine Benchaib
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fabien Ourega
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Franco Pedro Baldassarra
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vykintas Slivka
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Leon Kreković
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Renan Abner do Carmo de Oliveira
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Deividas Mikelionis
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aldayr Hernández Basanta
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luka Račić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Anthony Kalik
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gratas Sirgėdas
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ivan Fiolić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Leonardo Ribeiro da Cruz
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nosa Iyobosa Edokpolor
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yukiyoshi Karashima
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gabriel Debeljuh
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Motiejus Burba
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Dinamo Zagreb
FC Thun
FC Thun
Dinamo Zagreb
KRC Genk
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
KRC Genk
Midtjylland
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
FCSB
Dinamo Zagreb
Real Betis
Lille
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
Celta
Malmö
Dinamo Zagreb
FK Kauno Zalgiris
KÍ Klaksvik
KÍ Klaksvik
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Drita
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Drita
Arda Kardzhali
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Arda Kardzhali
Valur
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Valur
Penybont
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Penybont
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14:5 | 9 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12:3 | 9 |
|
3
|
Liverpool
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12:7 | 9 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10:5 | 9 |
|
5
|
Real Betis
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7:4 | 9 |
|
6
|
Stuttgart
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 7 |
|
7
|
Arsenal
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:2 | 7 |
|
8
|
Barcelona
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11:6 | 6 |
|
9
|
Como
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10:5 | 6 |
|
10
|
Manchester City
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9:5 | 6 |
|
11
|
Brugge
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9:6 | 6 |
|
12
|
Sporting CP
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 6 |
|
13
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 6 |
|
14
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10:5 | 5 |
|
15
|
AS Roma
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8:5 | 4 |
|
16
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 |
|
17
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 |
|
18
|
PSV
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:2 | 4 |
|
19
|
Villarreal
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8:8 | 3 |
|
20
|
Inter Milan
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:6 | 3 |
|
21
|
Manchester United
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:6 | 3 |
|
22
|
Napoli
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 3 |
|
23
|
Galatasaray
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:9 | 3 |
|
24
|
LASK Linz
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:9 | 3 |
|
25
|
FK Sabah
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:6 | 3 |
|
26
|
Feyenoord
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:8 | 3 |
|
27
|
Lens
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:7 | 3 |
|
28
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:9 | 3 |
|
29
|
AEK Athens
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:8 | 3 |
|
30
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:8 | 3 |
|
31
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3:9 | 2 |
|
32
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4:7 | 1 |
|
33
|
Viking
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5:9 | 1 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4:10 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:13 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:3 | 6 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:1 | 6 |
|
3
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
5
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 6 |
|
6
|
Como
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:2 | 6 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
8
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 4 |
|
9
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 3 |
|
12
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
|
14
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
15
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 3 |
|
16
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
18
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
19
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
21
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
23
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
24
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
25
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
26
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
27
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3:3 | 2 |
|
28
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
29
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
30
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
31
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:6 | 0 |
|
32
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
33
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Arsenal
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:2 | 4 |
|
2
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:3 | 3 |
|
5
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
6
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
8
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:5 | 3 |
|
9
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
11
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:5 | 3 |
|
15
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
17
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
18
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 |
|
21
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 1 |
|
22
|
Como
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 0 |
|
24
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
25
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
26
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
27
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
28
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
29
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:9 | 0 |
|
30
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
31
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
32
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:6 | 0 |
|
33
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:10 | 0 |
