Dinamo footballers celebrated a 3:2 victory against Thun at Maksimir after trailing 0:2 at halftime and extra time, securing a spot in the Champions League third qualifying round and guaranteeing European football this autumn.
Dinamo staged a football drama long remembered at Maksimir. In the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round, the Croatian champion defeated Swiss side Thun 3:2 after extra time on July 28, 2026, despite trailing 0:2 at halftime. Beyond advancing, the win has already secured the club at least €3.695 million and a guaranteed spot in the Conference League group stage, according to Net.hr.
Dinamo conceded the first goal as early as the 4th minute. Mišić lost the ball in midfield, the visitors quickly counterattacked, Zoukit crossed from the left, and Labeau scored from close range to make it 0:1. Further trouble for coach Mario Kovačević's men came in the 22nd minute: Fehr took a free kick, and Thun captain Burki headed the ball over goalkeeper Filipović from a tight angle for 0:2. Boos rang out from the stands at halftime, reports Klix.ba.
The key moment came in the 67th minute. After a VAR check, the referee showed a direct red card to Burki for a foul as the last defender. With a man advantage, Dinamo launched a full assault.
Just seven minutes later, in the 74th minute, Moris Valinčić delivered an excellent cross from the right, and Dion Drena Beljo headed home to make it 1:2. In the 78th minute, Topić took a corner, and Kačavenda redirected the ball into the net from five meters for 2:2, sending the stands into delirium. By the end of regular time, Topić hit the post, and Thun goalkeeper Steffen made a miraculous save in the 88th minute to keep his team alive, forcing extra time.
Although the visitors had a chance through Heule in the 98th minute, Dinamo patiently sought the winning goal. In the 113th minute, Valinčić picked up the ball on his own half, surged toward the penalty area, and unleashed an unstoppable shot from 17 meters into the top corner for the final 3:2. The former Široki Brijeg player became the hero of the night.
After the match, Dinamo's official Twitter account proudly stated:
"...so you forever remember who Dinamo is and where the city of Zagreb is!"Earlier on the same profile, they asked fans:
"Did you miss Dinamo...?"
Besides the sporting success, Dinamo's victory also secured significant earnings. According to Net.hr, the club has earned at least €3.695 million so far in European competitions. This amount includes a fixed fee of €175,000 for the three qualifying rounds and €3.17 million guaranteed for advancing to the Conference League group stage, should they fail to progress further in the next two rounds. A win in the Conference League league phase is worth €400,000, and a draw €133,000. Additionally, the Blues have already guaranteed European autumn, as a loss in the final two qualifying rounds would send them directly there.
In the Champions League third qualifying round, Dinamo will face the winner of the tie between KÍ Klaksvík from the Faroe Islands and Lithuania's Kauno Žalgiris. The first leg at Maksimir will be played on August 4 or 5, and the return leg away on August 11, 2026, on Tuesday since Wednesday is reserved for the UEFA Super Cup between Aston Villa and PSG.
