The former Hajduk midfielder arrived at the Lithuanian club just before the Champions League third qualifying round tie at Maksimir, and Mario Kovačević warns of the threat from Lithuania.
Former Hajduk midfielder Anthony Kalik has found a new club, and it's the team that will face Dinamo on Tuesday evening in the battle for a place in the Champions League play-offs. The 28-year-old has signed for Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris, managed by former Dinamo coach Željko Sopić.
According to Dalmacija News, Kalik joins the Lithuanian champions on a free transfer, with the move completed just before the first leg of the third qualifying round against the Zagreb Blues. The occasional Australian international left Hajduk at the end of last season and will now have the chance to complicate matters for his former rivals.
Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević did not hide his respect for the opponent at the press conference, highlighting the Croatian presence in the Lithuanian camp as an additional factor for caution. "I haven't shied away from the fact that we are favorites, but we need to prove it on the pitch. Žalgiris are not here by accident; they have good players, they are a serious team, and they have our coach who knows us well. A lot depends on us, and I believe we will be better tomorrow, but if we're not, we could have serious problems," Kovačević said.
The Blues' tactician also touched on the state of the dressing room, confirming that all players are available. "As for the squad, everything is fine. Zajc had some minor issues, but he trained, and I believe everyone will be available. We need to improve from game to game, and I'm confident we'll be even better on Tuesday," Kovačević added for HRT.
From a player's perspective, Moris Valinčić, the hero of the previous round against Thun, previewed the tie. The young midfielder is aware of the importance of the match, but also of the danger of thinking too early about a potential play-off. "We must first win at Maksimir, then in Lithuania, and then win in the league. That's still far away; we shouldn't rush. We need to analyze the opponent well and prepare mentally," Valinčić stated.
He also addressed transfer speculation but emphasized that his focus is solely on the pitch: "As for transfers, I have nothing to add; I'm focused on the match and on advancing."
If Dinamo overcome the Lithuanian hurdle, Norwegian champions Viking from Stavanger await in the Champions League play-offs, having won the title last season after a 34-year drought. The club's renaissance is led by the coaching duo of Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen, with a significant mark left by 33-year-old Croatian Zlatko Tripić, who scored 70 goals for Viking over two spells.
"People were initially skeptical, mocking that experiment and asking questions, but the two of them didn't look back. They knew what kind of partnership they wanted to build, stuck to their plan, and after five years, they brought the title," football podcaster Lars Risan described the success of the unusual coaching tandem to the BBC.
Viking is a club with a rich tradition, but six of their nine league titles were won between 1972 and 1982. During that period, big names like Bill Foulkes, a survivor of the Munich air disaster involving Manchester United, and later Roy Hodgson sat on the bench. However, in 2017, under manager Ian Burchnall, the club suffered relegation to the second tier, only to return to the top years later. The most notable name in the current squad is 23-year-old centre-back Henrik Falchener, the only international in the squad who played at the 2026 World Cup, although he is currently sidelined with an injury.
In the current Norwegian league, Viking, whose squad is valued at €47.5 million according to Transfermarkt, trail leaders Bodø/Glimt by just one point. In April, they thrashed the same opponent 5-0 in Stavanger, and last season they secured the title with a 5-1 victory over Vålerenga in the final round. On Saturday, they beat bottom-placed IK Start 3-0, which speaks volumes about their current form.
Should Dinamo be eliminated by Kauno Žalgiris, the winner of the tie between Hradec Králové and Beşiktaş would await them in the Europa League play-offs. Recall that Dinamo last played against the Turkish giants in 1988 in the UEFA Cup, winning 2-0 at Maksimir with goals from Radmilo Mihajlović.
