Blues continue in winning rhythm, Dinamo on top of Europa League

After two rounds played, Dinamo is at the top of the Europa League with a perfect six points and the best goal difference. With another brilliant performance, Dinamo "repeated" last week's scenario: once again, the blue team faced the yellow-blue team and once again, the Zagreb team secured a confident and solid victory with an identical score of 3:1. The spirited team of coach Mario Kovačević, following their victory against Turkish side Fenerbahçe last week, this Thursday in the 2nd round of the UEFA Europa League, defeated the Israeli champions Maccabi 3:1 on the field in the Serbian town of Bačka Topola, where the Tel Aviv team formally played as the home side.

Events unfolded rapidly in the first half, with three goals scored in just four minutes, resulting in a complete turnaround in the scoreline. Maccabi took the lead, but Dinamo quickly "turned the game around" with two goals in the next four minutes.

Israeli midfielder Ben Lederman pulled the attack down the right side in the 14th minute and skillfully "set up" the ball behind the defense into the penalty area, Saied Ben Farhi ran in and managed to push it behind the goal line. Dinamo "got back into the game" two minutes later in a similar pattern, captain Josip Mišić also approached the penalty area from the right side, sent a vertical ball into the middle, Mateo Lisica ran in and launched it first time under the crossbar to equalize.

In the next attack, the blues practically signed a full turnaround. Moris Valinčić brought the ball to the middle of the field along the right sideline, like a bulldozer, cleared almost half of the field, resisted the tackles of the opposing defenders, and when he approached the edge of the field, he sent a short pass back to seven meters where Dejan Ljubičić managed to place it in the near bottom corner with his right foot.

Zagreb residents were close to their third goal in that first half, Arbër Hoxha in his characteristic run through the left wing at full speed and with skillful dribbling passed the defenders, shot with his right foot from 14 meters, but the ball flew past the opposite goalpost.

Even Dion Drena Beljo tried, in the 64th minute he strongly pulled from the left from 18 meters, and goalkeeper Roi Mishpati managed to deflect the ball. In the next attack, Hoxha pulled a semi-counterattack, played to the right for Beljo, who still failed to catch the ball well so the Israeli goalkeeper easily caught it.

However, Maccabi's goalkeeper still didn't have a solution in the 72nd minute, Mounsef Bakrar pulled the attack on the right side, played shortly for Beljo, he sent a parallel to the left with an effective left foot for Ljubičić who delicately placed the ball into the opposite "small net" from 17 meters.

At the end, the Israelis tried to catch up, mostly with long-range shots, Kervin Andrade launched the ball towards the goalpost, while the goalkeeper from Maksimir, Ivan Nevistić, skillfully stopped the powerful shots of Elad Madmon and Sagiv Yehezkel.

The next challenge on the European stage awaits the Blues on October 23 when they visit Malmö.

Bačka Topola, October 2, 2025.

UEFA Europa League, Matchday 2

Maccabi Tel Aviv - Dinamo 1:3

TSC Arena

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Mishpati – Asante, Heitor (63. Shlomo), Camara – Varela (68. Jehezkel), Lederman (63. Peretz), Sissokho, Revivo (78. Madmon) – Belić, Abu Farhi (63. Davida), Andrade

Coach: Žarko Lazetić

Dinamo: Nevistić – Valinčić, Theophile, McKenna, Goda – Mišić; Lisica (90+1. Soldo), Ljubičić (81. Stojanović), Zajc (90+1. Vidović), Hoxha (68. Bakrar) – Beljo (81. Kulenović)

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Referee: Antonio Nobre (Portugal)

Scorers: 1:0 Abu Farhi (14.), 1:1 Lisica (16.), 1:2 Ljubičić (18.), 1:3 Ljubičić (72.)