After a convincing win in Zagreb, Dinamo's players on Tuesday evening look to confirm their place in the playoff of the elite competition against Kauno Žalgiris. The potential opponent in the final qualifying round is already known.
GNK Dinamo continues its path to the Champions League on Tuesday, August 11. The Blues visit Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris in the return leg of the third qualifying round, carrying a massive 5:0 lead from the first leg played in Zagreb. The match takes place at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas, and anything less than progression for the Croatian champions would be nothing short of a sensation.
A week ago, Dinamo completely outplayed the Lithuanian representative on their home turf. In the 31st minute, Miha Zajc was the first to break through the visitors' net, and Scott McKenna doubled the lead just two minutes later, making it 2:0. In the second half, Kauno Žalgiris's net shook three more times: Mateo Lisica scored in the 51st minute, Luka Stojković in the 76th, and the final 5:0 was set by Lukas Kačavenda in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
That result practically secured the victory in the two-legged tie. Dinamo is not traveling to Kaunas to chase a result, but rather to preserve their advantage and, without unnecessary drama, seal their place in the playoff.
Kauno Žalgiris is facing a nearly impossible task. The hosts must overcome a five-goal deficit against a team that already demonstrated a significant gap in quality in the first match. If they want to at least try to complicate the tie, the Lithuanians will have to take significantly more risks, which could open up additional space for Dinamo's counterattacks. Any goal by the Blues in Kaunas would further complicate an already difficult job for the home side.
Should Dinamo get past Kauno Žalgiris, which is likely, they will face Norwegian side Viking in the Champions League playoff. Nyon hosted the draw on August 3, where it was determined that the first leg would be in Zagreb, with the return in Norway. The playoff matches begin on August 18 and 19, with the return legs a week later. The Blues are thus potentially just three matches away from securing a spot among the 36 clubs that will play in the league phase of the Champions League this season.
Despite the huge advantage, Dinamo is unlikely to treat the return leg as a mere formality. European qualifiers do not allow for complacency, and the priority is to finish the job and turn attention to the final hurdle before the elite competition.
