Early goal directed the match, Dinamo's first defeat this season in Europe

Early goal by the guests and several clever actions led by the experienced captain, "number ten" Iago Aspas, directed the match at Maksimir Stadium where the Blues suffered their first defeat of the season on the European stage. In the 4th round of the UEFA Europa League, Spanish Celta de Vigo defeated Dinamo 3-0, scoring a complete trio of goals in the first half.

Prior to the match, the Maksimir fans and, of course, the players, paid tribute to the late Rudolf Belin, celebrated Dinamo football player and coach who passed away on Monday, the day before his 83rd birthday, with a minute of silence.

The net of the Blues shook already at the opening of the match, at the end of the 3rd minute, it was Aspas who sent a vertical ball, Pablo Duran skillfully received it with his back to the goal at the top of the penalty area, slightly to the left, elegantly turned and aimed with his right foot at the closer bottom corner for an early lead. With that goal, he unfolded the ambitions of the visiting team, which gained further confidence and took control of the game with strong pressure.

Maksimir's goalkeeper Ivan Nevistić managed to deflect a powerful shot from 15 meters in the 28th minute, but in the continuation of the action Duran sped through the left side, escaped the defense, approached the penalty area, turned towards the goal, and the ball grazed Sergio Dominguez and ended up in the net.

Dinamo tried to get back into the game, captain Josip Mišić in the 36th minute on the right side sent the ball behind the defense to Mateo Lisica, who played it back first time to 14 meters where Miha Zajc was running at full speed, but at the crucial moment he still failed to control the ball well.

A new opportunity arose in the next attack, but on the other side of the field. Bryan Zaragoza was advancing on the left wing, Miguel Roman received the ball in the penalty area and launched it just over the goal.

In this match, Dinamo did not have even the slightest bit of luck, at the end of the first half they were just a hair's breadth away from a goal that would have brought back the score uncertainty. Sandro Kulenović received the ball in the heart of Celtic's penalty area, between three defenders, forcefully struck from the right from about ten meters and hit the opposite post. In doing so, the ball did manage to graze goalkeeper Ivan Villar.

A new attack by the Spaniards followed by a new goal... In the 44th minute, the guests won the ball on Dinamo's half, the omnipresent and skillful Aspas launched a diagonal pass to the left to forward Zaragoza, who sharply crossed it in front of the goal where Duran ran in and shook the net.

In the second half, Dinamo managed to regain balance, the ball was mostly in the feet of the Maksimir footballers, but without clear chances for a goal. Arbër Hoxha tried, after an action by Gonzalo Villar and Luka Stojković, but goalkeeper Villar managed to cushion his shot.

 Zagreb, November 6, 2025.

UEFA Europa League, Matchday 4

Dinamo - Celta 0:3

Maksimir Stadium

Dinamo: Nevistić - Theophile (46th Bakrar), Dominguez, McKenna, Goda (46th Perez Vinlöf) - Mišić; Lisica, Ljubičić (59th Stojković), Zajc (78th Villar), Hoxha - Kulenović (59th Beljo)

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Celta: Villar - J. Rodriguez, Starfelt (76th Lago), Dominguez, Ristić - Beltran (76th D. Rodriguez); El-Abdellaoui, Aspas, Roman (85th Sotelo), Zaragoza (63rd Jutgla) - Duran (63rd Iglesias)

Coach: Claudio Giraldez

Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou (Greece), Attendance: 19,431

Scorers: 0:1 Duran (3rd), 0:2 Dominguez (28th - own goal), 0:3 Duran (44th)