Dinamo Chases Champions League on Tuesday with Record Fan Support
The Blues broke last year's membership record as early as August 3, and ahead of the clash with Kauno Žalgiris, coach Kovačević says: 'Victory is the primary goal.'
The Blues broke last year's membership record as early as August 3, and ahead of the clash with Kauno Žalgiris, coach Kovačević says: 'Victory is the primary goal.'
While preparations are underway at Maksimir for a new European push, news from GNK Dinamo confirms the club's growing strength off the pitch. The number of Blues members has surpassed last year's record of 65,243, and this was achieved as early as August 3, 2026-150 days earlier than in the previous season.
The club announced that they view this result as confirmation of the strong bond between the team and its fans. They thanked everyone who has become a member and emphasized that members play a crucial role in preserving Dinamo's identity and future. The news was released on match day, August 4, 2026, and provides an additional motivational boost ahead of the decisive clash on the road to the Champions League.
After a heart-stopping comeback against Thun in the previous round, Mario Kovačević's side hosts Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris in the third qualifying round, led by Croatian coach Željko Sopić. The first leg takes place at Maksimir at 8:00 PM. Dinamo's coach is aware of the challenge and emphasized the importance of the approach from the very start in his pre-match comments.
"We need to improve from game to game, and I believe we will be even better on Tuesday. We are aware of the importance of the match and I believe we will play a good game. Victory is the primary goal. We've had issues with our starts to games; we need to be right from the first minute, but also be right for all 90 minutes. We are aware that another 90 minutes awaits us at their place," Kovačević told Net.hr.
An additional reason for optimism is the successful start to the domestic league. On Friday, Dinamo defeated Slaven Belupo 2-0 with a rotated squad, which further boosted the team's confidence ahead of the European test. The return leg in Lithuania is scheduled for next week, and the Blues will seek a victory at Maksimir to ease their path. The match will be broadcast live on MAXSport 1.
