Dinamo's footballers opened the new competitive year with a draw, playing 1:1 against Swiss champions Thun in a demanding away fixture on an artificial pitch in the first leg of the Champions League 2nd qualifying round. The return leg is scheduled for Tuesday, 28th July, in Zagreb.

It was also Dinamo's milestone 400th match in the history of European club competitions.

The Blues created chances, had moments of dominance, the hosts cleared the ball from the goal line twice, and on several occasions Zagreb players clumsily handled the ball in promising situations... The hosts played aggressively, taking the lead in the 19th minute through a simple move, scoring with a header following a cross from the wing. Miha Zajc equalised after lucid passing from Fran Topić four minutes before the end.

In the 17th minute, Moris Valančić and Gabriel Vidović exchanged two one-twos between them. In the continuation, Vidović played to the right for Mateo Lisica, but he didn't strike the ball well in a promising situation and it flew wide of the goal.

Two dangerous Thun attacks followed, the second of which ended with a goal. First, Maksimir goalkeeper Ivan Filipović saved two consecutive home shots in the 19th minute, in a scramble in the penalty area Valmir Matoshi first struck with a volley, then Nico Maier ran onto the rebound, but Dinamo's goalkeeper also saved his attempt.

However, the Swiss found a route to goal a minute later. Right-back Fabio Fehr rushed forward, crossed into the box, and Brighton Labeau headed home from the edge of the six-yard box for the lead.

Dinamo had a chance to equalise practically in the next attack, captain Josip Mišić intercepted a pass in the opponents' half, sent the ball towards the penalty area, but Dion Drena Beljo in a promising position about ten metres from goal didn't get the best contact on the ball.

Valančić struck sharply from 18 metres from the right in the 28th minute, but goalkeeper Niklas Steffen prevented a goal with a save. Immediately afterwards there was danger at the other end, Furkan Dursun headed the ball wide from close range, but even if he had scored, it's questionable what would have happened, as VAR might have intervened for a possible offside although the assistant referee didn't raise his flag.

The Blues created two chances at the very end of the first half, first Lisica played a sharp cross from the right wing, Zajc ran onto it and fired over the goal. Mišić then played through Zajc, who passed to Vidović who sent the ball over the goal from a good position 15 metres out.

At the start of the second half, Vidović brilliantly released Mislav Oršić on the counter-attack, but he took one step too many and the defenders managed to close him down. Soon after, Zajc crossed from the corner, Beljo headed it... The goalkeeper touched the ball, and Michael Heule cleared it off the goal line with his head.

Later, Oršić threatened the Swiss defence twice, in the 57th minute he was in a good position in the penalty area, but lost his balance when shooting, and shortly afterwards he crossed into the box, but Fehr cleared it off the goal line.

At the other end in the 73rd minute, Matoshi tried his luck, shooting from a half-turn, but the ball flew just wide of the goal.

The equalising goal came in the 86th minute, during a period of Dinamo pressure, Lukas Kačavenda intercepted the ball in the opponents' half, passed right to Topić, who took a few steps and played a through ball for Zajc who struck brilliantly and precisely from 18 metres first time, finding the net.

Thun, 21st July 2026.

UEFA Champions League, 2nd qualifying round, first leg

Thun – Dinamo 1:1

Arena Thun

Thun: Steffen – Fehr, Bamert, Bürki, Heule (90. Dähler) – Reichmuth (80. Bürgy), Roth, Matoshi, Maier (56. Zoukit) – Dursun (56. Gutbub), Labeau (80. Ibayi)

Coach: Gian-Luca Privitelli

Dinamo: Filipović – Valančić, Dominguez, McKenna, Goda – Mišić; Lisica (65. Hoxha), Vidović (80. Kačavenda), Zajc, Oršić (80. Topić) – Beljo

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Referee: Bulat Sariyev (Kazakhstan)

Scorers: 1:0 Labeau (19.), 1:1 Zajc (86.)