After a convincing victory over Kauno Žalgiris, the Croatian champions are one step away from the Champions League playoffs, but the history of away games in Norway calls for caution ahead of the clash with Viking.
The strains of the Champions League anthem are growing louder at Maksimir after Dinamo dismantled Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris in the first leg of the second qualifying round. In 12 or 13 days, the Croatian champions could be in the playoffs, with Norwegian club Viking as the final hurdle on the road to the elite competition. While the Zagreb club rightly hopes for a historic 10th appearance in the Champions League, the awareness of the challenge coming from the land of fjords is very much present.
Despite the convincing lead from the first leg, coach Mario Kovačević is not allowing any euphoria. "They must think like athletes," he said after the win over the Lithuanian side, emphasizing that his troops must first complete the return leg before thoughts turn to Viking and Stavanger, the hometown of Alf-Inge Haaland, father of one of the world's most popular footballers.
Dinamo's history of away games in Norway does not favor them. In the five times the "Blues" have played in that country, they have never celebrated a victory. Their record is three draws and two defeats, with every match being extremely demanding. Norway is currently experiencing football euphoria after the national team's qualification for the World Cup quarterfinals, and the return of the Champions League to their shores is a big desire for fans, especially after Bodø/Glimt's notable campaign last season.
The motivation to qualify for the Champions League is enormous, and it's not just about sporting prestige. UEFA has prepared lucrative rewards for the 2024-2027 competition cycle. Every club that qualifies for the Champions League receives €18.62 million upfront. This amount increases with each win (€2.1 million) and draw (€700,000), and also grows from television rights, the ten-year coefficient, and final placement after the league phase.
For comparison, Dinamo earned a total of €39.71 million from their last adventure in the elite competition in the 2024/25 season. Even clubs at the bottom of the earnings table, like Kazakhstan's Kairat (€22 million) and Slavia Prague (€31 million) last season, came out tens of millions richer. These amounts directly impact the achievement of club goals, such as the planned player sales worth €27 million, which was mentioned at the Assembly in December.
In the next two weeks, in addition to psychological and physical preparation for the key matches, Dinamo will also try to round off the transfer window. At Maksimir, they are still searching for a midfielder who could cover the "six" and "eight" positions, and the goalkeeper question is also open. Although Ivan Filipović has kept a clean sheet in the last two matches, it's an open secret that reinforcements are being sought in that position as well.
Qualifying for the Champions League represents the realization of a childhood dream for most players. Only a few in the dressing room have experienced playing in the elite competition, led by Josip Mišić and Mislav Oršić. Many, like Dione Drena Beljo, are eagerly and visibly awaiting their premiere among the best, as the striker himself confirmed before the flight to Switzerland for the return leg against Thun. At Maksimir, they hope this generation will repeat the path from 2018, when the team secured Champions League football on the second attempt and showed against giants like Shakhtar, Atalanta, and Manchester City that they can compete with the best.
