Lukas Kačavenda scored his third goal in five appearances this season, cementing his status as a key player for the Blues in their Champions League push.
Dinamo routinely completed the return leg in Lithuania against Kauno Žalgiris (2:1) and secured a Champions League playoff, where they will face Norwegian side Viking FK at Maksimir on August 18. However, behind another successful European step lies the story of a player who, after years of battling injuries and loans, has finally found his place in the spotlight.
In the 19th minute, Lukas Kačavenda opened the scoring for the hosts with a fine goal following a well-worked move and a pass from Dion Drena Beljo. That goal brought him to three in five appearances this season, all scored in the Champions League qualifiers. He was also one of the most responsible for the dramatic passage against Swiss side Thun, where he came off the bench to first win a red card and then score the equalizer.
Coach Mario Kovačević decided to keep him in the starting eleven in Lithuania ahead of Gabriel Vidović, who had started the first two European matches of the season. At the same time, Kačavenda was under threat of suspension due to two yellow cards, so the Blues' strategist deliberately risked not losing him for the next stage of the competition. That decision proved crucial.
Born in 2003 in Zagreb, Kačavenda took his first football steps at Kustošija, went through part of Dinamo's academy, and had his senior breakthrough at Lokomotiva. His performances earned him the Croatian Football Union's award for the league's best young player in 2022, but that same year he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, one of the most severe injuries for a footballer.
In late August 2023, he joined Dinamo on loan from Lokomotiva, but due to the aftermath of his earlier injury, he did not play a single official match that season. Last season, he spent on loan at Austrian side LASK from Linz, which won the title, but Kačavenda was not among the team's main players. The Austrian club did not take up the option to buy, and sporting director Dino Burić said his time in Austria was still significant because he was returning from a serious injury and had to adapt to a new country, league, and different style of play.
On August 1, 2024, Dinamo completed his transfer from Lokomotiva and signed a three-year contract. In the 2024/25 season, he made 32 official appearances, scored two goals, and provided six assists, and also had six appearances in the Champions League. However, in a difficult season in which Dinamo did not win the league title, Kačavenda fought for a place in a strong midfield competition that included Petar Sučić and Martin Baturina.
This season, he is getting the continuity he lacked. Dinamo's incomplete midfield, along with a large number of upcoming matches, allows him to take on a role in one of the number-eight positions and develop into the player he was once thought to be.
"Last year, I felt sorry when Kačavenda went on loan. I didn't allow him to leave this season. And he had offers. I'm happy for him; he's had a lot of injuries and has already been through a lot in his career. I wish him as few as possible in the future," Kovačević said after the win against Thun.
After so many setbacks, things have finally opened up for Kačavenda. He is currently the best story of Dinamo's season, which is going in the right direction on all fronts so far.
The Blues now face a Champions League playoff against Norwegian side Viking. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 18, at 9 PM at Maksimir Stadium. Tickets are sold online through the club's official website. A pre-sale for Club members begins on Wednesday, August 12, at 11 AM and lasts until Thursday, August 13, at 11:59 PM. General sale starts on Friday, August 14, at 11 AM and lasts until Tuesday, August 18, at 9:45 PM.
Prices for individual tickets for the West Lower stand are €23 for members and €28 for other fans, while for the West Upper stand, prices are €18 for members and €23 for others. The North Lower stand is available exclusively to members at a price of €12. Season ticket holders can transfer their seats via the online service until Tuesday at 12 PM.
