Lukas Kačavenda and Matteo Pérez Vinlöf are the most pleasant surprises of the season's start at Maksimir. One has already caught up with Beljo on the scoring list, while the other has unexpectedly emerged as a key asset on the flank.
In the first three weeks of the new season, two Dinamo Zagreb players have particularly stood out. Lukas Kačavenda and Matteo Pérez Vinlöf have rapidly boosted their own stock with their performances, becoming the talk of the town ahead of the crucial Champions League playoff.
Kačavenda has scored three goals in the five matches so far, sharing the top of the club's scoring chart with the most lethal striker in Croatia, Dino Drena Beljo. His latest goal came as early as the 19th minute of the away game in Kaunas, where Beljo set him up for his third goal of the season.
Thus, the former Lokomotiva player has already reached nearly half of his most prolific campaign in his career before mid-August. In the 2021/22 season, he scored seven goals, and now he's on three, which has turned him from a fringe player into a serious reinforcement. Although he might not yet be a starter, Kačavenda has undoubtedly become the team's 12th man, the first option coach Mario Kovačević looks to from the bench.
On the other hand, Pérez Vinlöf came off the bench against Thun at Maksimir and immediately showed why he's becoming an increasingly important cog in the team. In Lithuania, he won two yellow cards for the opposition in the first 11 minutes, and the home side fouled him brutally several more times. The Italian referee didn't reach for a third booking this time, even though he had reason to.
Beyond his defensive contribution, the Swede stood out with runs that reflected immense confidence. His place in the starting lineup has been further cemented, and stats of two assists and a host of sharp crosses into the box speak of a player who has outgrown the role of a mere defender and become a modern full-back, an attacking weapon in a defender's body.
In midfield, Kovačević continues to rely on the standard trio from the championship season. Miha Zajc, who played 70 minutes against the Lithuanians at Maksimir, didn't come off the bench in the return leg, but alongside Josip Mišić and Luka Stojković-two 32-year-olds and one 22-year-old-he remains the go-to option for the new season.
Dinamo now turns its focus to the UEFA Champions League playoff. The opponent is Norwegian side Viking FK, with the first leg at Maksimir on Tuesday, August 18, at 9 PM. "We know what's next," the club said, alongside a photo of Luka Stanzl, and the announcement reads: "Let's go for the Champions League together!"
Tickets are already on sale. The priority window for club members runs from Wednesday, August 12, at 11 AM to Thursday, August 13, at 11:59 PM. General sale begins on Friday, August 14, at 11 AM and lasts until matchday at 9:45 PM. Prices range from €12 for members in the North Stand to €28 for other fans in the West Stand. Season ticket holders can transfer their seats via the online service until August 18 at 12 PM.
