Dinamo Crushes Brugge 5:1, Benfica Up Next on Saturday
Young Blues dismantle Belgians, while Benfica humiliates Juventus 5:0. In Group A, Hajduk draws with Ajax and keeps hopes alive for Sunday's final.
Young Blues dismantle Belgians, while Benfica humiliates Juventus 5:0. In Group A, Hajduk draws with Ajax and keeps hopes alive for Sunday's final.
Dinamo's footballers convincingly defeated Belgian side Club Brugge 5:1 on the second day of the Mladen Ramljak memorial tournament. With Benfica's simultaneous 5:0 victory over Juventus, the Blues have set up a direct clash with the Portuguese on Saturday for a place in the final. In the other group, Hajduk played out a 2:2 draw with Ajax and also remains in contention for Sunday's showpiece.
Dinamo took the lead as early as the second minute of the match. Jona Benkotić found the back of the net right from the start, setting the tone for an attacking display. Eight minutes later, the advantage was doubled: Fran Kramarić set up Luka Radić from the right side, who finished precisely to make it 2:0.
Before the end of the first half, Club Brugge's net bulged once more. In the 30th minute, Roko Ban neatly controlled the ball, shook off his marker with a dribble, and slotted it home for a commanding 3:0 lead at the break.
The second half brought another blow. In the 48th minute, Radić played in Kramarić, and Ban got a touch to score his second of the match and Dinamo's fourth. The visitors pulled one back ten minutes later: Cedric Broecks found Matteo Soria on the left with a long ball, and he rounded the goalkeeper and scored from an angle to make it 4:1.
However, just three minutes after that goal, Dinamo restored their four-goal cushion. Luka Radić received the ball on the edge of the box, created space for a shot, and placed it precisely for the final 5:1.
In the other Group B match, Benfica thrashed Juventus 5:0. The Portuguese now lead the standings with four points, while Dinamo and Juventus have three each. The Blues hold the advantage on goal difference: they are at +3, while the Turin club is at -4. A win in Saturday's clash against Benfica practically guarantees Dinamo a place in the final, while a defeat, given the current goal difference, could theoretically still keep them in contention.
The match between Dinamo and Benfica is scheduled for August 8, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Maksimir Stadium.
In Group A, Hajduk and Ajax shared the spoils with a 2:2 draw. Both clubs now have four points and share the top spot. Athletic Bilbao trail with three points, while Bologna are yet to pick up a point. The Whites need a win in their final group game and a favorable result in the other match to reach the final.
The Mladen Ramljak memorial tournament concludes on Sunday, August 9, when the final is scheduled. Zagreb could thus witness an ideal scenario with both Croatian representatives battling for the trophy.
