Furious Dinamo delivered an attractive, confident and inspired performance to overcome their opponents and secure a Sunday spectacle for the Zagreb public! The young Maksimir footballers, coach Milan Badelj's junior squad, will take the field on Sunday at 18:30 against their peers from Ajax in the battle for the winner's trophy of the 23rd edition of the prestigious international Mladen Ramljak tournament. The setting for the final clash will be special: the main pitch of Maksimir Stadium. The last Ramljak tournament at the foot of Maksimir's walls before their renovation...

Dinamo earned their place in the final against the Dutch "Lancers" in great style – Badelj's youngsters outplayed Benfica 4-1. And this just one day after that same Benfica defeated Juventus 5-0. On the same day, Friday, Dinamo saw off Belgian side Club Brugge with almost the same "measure", winning 5-1.

Ajax won their final group match against Bologna 7-2 and claimed first place in Group A with seven points, two more than second-placed Hajduk.

The Blues have therefore scored nine goals in two consecutive matches... And thus earned the chance to defend the winner's trophy they claimed last year. Moreover, a potential new title would be Dinamo's 15th trophy in the 23 editions so far, of which the third consecutive.

Interestingly, in Saturday's match on the Zlatko Cico Kranjčar auxiliary pitch, Benfica took the lead. Paulo Souza played the ball to the right where Joao Silva appeared, who skillfully dribbled into the penalty area, reached the goal line, played a cross into the box, and there Afonso Ferreirinha cleverly deflected the ball into the net with a neat touch.

Dinamo, despite the Portuguese lead, generally controlled the game and dominated for almost all 80 minutes, and it was clear that the match was "sliding" in Badelj's team's direction. Just four minutes later Dinamo equalized, and practically in the next attack turned the result in their favor.

Kaloyan Bozhkov delivered a corner kick, Maksimir center-back Nikola Radnić headed it, goalkeeper Antonio Luis saved it onto the post. The ball bounced back in front of the goal line where Jona Benkotić appeared and, also with his head, deflected it into the net for the equalizer in the 25th minute.

Just about a hundred seconds later came the complete turnaround, Jeon Jin-Woo crossed from the right wing, and Roko Ban cleverly finished with his foot at the edge of the box, putting the ball behind the goal line.

Dinamo continued attacking, pressuring the opponent's defense and then, between the 74th and 79th minutes, scored two more goals. First Patrik Horvat curled in a cross from the left side, and the ever-present, inspired captain Benkotić headed home Dinamo's third goal. The story was concluded by Niko Željković with a precise strike from about twenty meters.

The best player was, naturally, double goalscorer Benkotić who, true to his captain's spirit, led the team, brought liveliness and energy, controlled the midfield and at the same time caused havoc in front of the opponent's goal....

Zagreb, 8 August 2026.

Mladen Ramljak Tournament, Group B, Round 3

Dinamo – Benfica 4:1

Maksimir Stadium, Zlatko Cico Kranjčar pitch

Dinamo: Nemet – Kramarić, Radnić (78. Nevjestić), Zirdum, Paunović (78. Žaja) – Radoš (78. Miličić); Jeon (61. Radić), Bozhkov (75. Željković), Benkotić, Horvat – Ban (61. Nekić)

Coach: Milan Badelj

Benfica: Luis – Fernandes (58. Said), Vieira (75. Castro), Felipe Santos (41. Almeida), Batista (68. Ferreira) – Constantino, Paulo Souza (41. Correia); Patel (41. Semedo), Joao Silva (58. Hugo Gomes), Wang – Ferreirinha (75. Martim Gomes)

Coach: Luis Araujo

Referee: Luka Čališ

Goalscorers: 0:1 Ferreirinha (21.), 1:1 Benkotić (25.), 2:1 Ban (27.), 3:1 Benkotić (74.), 4:1 Željković (79.)