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

This 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, on several occasions Zagreb players awkwardly handled the ball in promising situations... The hosts played aggressively, took the lead in the 19th minute with a simple move, scoring with a header following a cross from the wing. Miha Zajc equalized after a clever pass from Fran Topić four minutes before the end.

In the 17th minute, Moris Valančić and Gabriel Vidović exchanged two one-twos between themselves. In the continuation, Vidović played right to Mateo Lisica, but he didn't connect well with the ball 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 shots from the hosts in the 19th minute, in a scramble in the penalty area Valmir Matoshi first struck with a volley, then Nico Maier pounced on the rebound, but Dinamo's goalkeeper also saved his attempt.

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

Dinamo had a chance to equalize 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 meters from goal didn't connect well with the ball.

Valančić struck sharply from 18 meters on the right in the 28th minute, and goalkeeper Niklas Steffen saved with a good stop. Immediately after, there was danger at the other end, Furkan Dursun headed from close range wide of the goal, but even if he had scored, it's questionable what would have happened, 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 sent the ball over the goal. Mišić then set up Zajc, who passed to Vidović who from a good position 15 meters out sent the ball over the goal.

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... The goalkeeper touched the ball, and Michael Heule cleared it off the goal line with his head.

A bit later, Oršić twice threatened the Swiss defense, in the 57th minute he was in a good position in the penalty area, but lost his balance when shooting, and shortly after he crossed in front of goal, but Fehr cleared 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 equalizing goal came in the 86th minute, during a period of Dinamo pressure, Lukas Kačavenda intercepted the ball in the opponents' half, played right to Topić, who took a few steps and played a cross for Zajc who brilliantly and precisely struck from 18 meters first time and found the net.

Thun, July 21st, 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 (30. 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.)