Schedule Confirmed: Dinamo to Face Rudeš on Friday Due to Champions League
Competition Commissioner Antonio Grahovac has set the 3rd round SHNL match at Maksimir for August 14, making everything secondary to the playoff against Viking.
Competition Commissioner Antonio Grahovac has set the 3rd round SHNL match at Maksimir for August 14, making everything secondary to the playoff against Viking.
GNK Dinamo will play their 3rd round SuperSport HNL match against Rudeš on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 8 PM at Maksimir Stadium. The decision was made by competition commissioner Antonio Grahovac, and according to Sportske novosti, everything has been aligned with Dinamo's European ambitions and the upcoming Champions League playoff.
The Blues will thus have exactly four days to prepare and rest before the first leg of the playoff against Norwegian side Viking, scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 9 PM in Zagreb. The return leg will be played on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
Although Dinamo will already be away in Lithuania against Kauno Žalgiris on Tuesday in the return leg of the previous round, the huge 5:0 advantage from the first match allows the coach to rotate the squad and save key players for the Scandinavian opponent. Rudeš, as a newly promoted top-flight side, is also an opponent against whom squad rotation is expected.
The third round of the domestic championship takes place around the Feast of the Assumption. On Saturday, August 15, Istra 1961 will face Slaven Belupo (6:30 PM) and Osijek will host Lokomotiva (9 PM). The following day, Sunday, August 16, 2026, features clashes of Croatian representatives in the Conference League: Varaždin welcomes Rijeka (6:30 PM), and Gorica plays against Hajduk (9 PM).
The already announced dates for the fourth round, which takes place from August 21 to 23, 2026, confirm that European appearances have dictated the pace. Rudeš and Lokomotiva open the round on Friday (8 PM). On Saturday, August 22, Slaven Belupo plays against Gorica (6:30 PM), and Dinamo hosts Varaždin (9 PM). Sunday brings the Adriatic derby between Rijeka and Istra 1961 (6:30 PM) and the big clash between Hajduk and Osijek (9 PM).
In anticipation of European challenges, Dinamo also boasted on social media about a historic statistic. "Club historians say this is the seventh time the Blues have sent opponents packing with a five-goal margin in European club competitions," the club posted on their official Twitter profile alongside a photo of Luka Stanzl.
Additionally, Maksimir will host the youth tournament Ramljak26 as early as tomorrow, August 6, 2026. "This year's tournament opens tomorrow morning with Ajax and Athletic Bilbao, while the Blues kick off at 7:15 PM on pitch 3 - against Juventus! Entry to all matches is free. Follow all match broadcasts only on Dinamo Plus," the club announced.
