Dinamo hosts Kauno Žalgiris on Tuesday evening in the most important match of the season so far, with coach Mario Kovačević facing several tactical dilemmas ahead of the clash at a packed Maksimir.
Zagreb's Maksimir will be the stage for another fiery football evening. On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 8 PM, GNK Dinamo will face Lithuania's Kauno Žalgiris, and judging by ticket sales, the blue faithful will provide a thunderous support from the stands. According to Sportske novosti, over 12,000 tickets had been issued by Monday noon, with the last remaining seats on the lower tiers of the north and west stands being filled.
Recall that last week's dramatic return leg against Thun was watched by exactly 17,092 spectators, and similar numbers are expected this time, despite the sweltering summer evening. According to the current forecast, the temperature at kickoff will be 31 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, this won't deter fans from creating an atmosphere, and they will be joined by visiting supporters from Lithuania. Kauno Žalgiris offered their fans a return flight for 150 euros, so Lithuanian supporters will arrive in Zagreb in a special expedition, together with the players.
Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević faces a few pleasant headaches before finalizing his starting lineup. The rotations in the first round of the SHNL, where Dinamo beat Slaven Belupo with a mixed team, gave him a clearer picture of his squad but also raised some questions.
While the spots for goalkeeper Ivan Filipović and right-back Moris Valinčić are almost certain, the rest of the defense remains unresolved. The center-back pairing will likely be Sergi Dominguez and Scott McKenna, but Stjepan Radeljić's excellent performance against Slaven proved that Dinamo has a very solid backup in him. The biggest unknown, however, is on the left side. Swedish player Matteo Perez Vinlöf showcased his offensive qualities against Slaven, assisting Dion Drena Beljo. Given the expected dominant possession and the need to break through a compact Lithuanian block, his characteristics make him the logical choice over the more defensively reliable Bruno Gode.
In midfield, Josip Mišić and Luka Stojković, who returns from suspension, are certain starters. The third midfielder should be Miha Zajc, but he has had minor injury issues. If he is unavailable, the first choice is Lukas Kačavenda, who changed the course of the match against Thun and has proven to be the best signing of the early season.
In attack, Dion Drena Beljo is a sure starter, but the winger positions are up for grabs. Mateo Lisica and Mislav Oršić are most likely to start, but Arber Hoxha and Fran Topić have shown they can bring the necessary energy. It wouldn't be surprising if Kovačević opts for at least one of them. Dinamo's possible lineup in a 4-3-3 formation: Filipović, Valinčić, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf, Mišić, Stojković, Zajc, Lisica, Beljo, Oršić.
Ahead of the match, Dinamo also boasted great news. The club announced on its official Twitter profile that on August 3, 2026, it surpassed last year's record of 65,243 members and friends of the club. "We reached that number already on August 3, 150 days earlier than last year, and with each day, each new member, that record will only grow and grow... because if you love Dinamo, then you belong here!" the club said.
Additionally, Dinamo announced the iconic Mladen Ramljak Tournament, which will be held from August 6 to 9. Alongside Dinamo's youth team, this year's tournament will feature Club Brugge, Juventus, Benfica, Ajax, Athletic Bilbao, Hajduk, and Bologna. Admission to the tournament is free, and all matches can also be followed via the Dinamo Plus platform.
