The stands erupted, applause, chanting and salutes – in honour of Dinamo, in glory of the champions! The trophy returns to Zagreb, and the Maksimir footballers secured it on a special day – on the club's 115th anniversary. It was, therefore, a double Maksimir celebration: both birthday and championship. Coach Mario Kovačević's team this Sunday mathematically secured the championship title, Dinamo sits atop the table four rounds before the end with an unreachable 15-point lead over their closest rivals, Hajduk. This is Dinamo's 26th HNL championship title, and 36th overall.

The Blues in the 32nd round of SuperSport HNL defeated Varaždin 2:1, but they secured the title even before kick-off as Rijeka and Hajduk played out a 0:0 draw at Rujevica earlier that day, which meant Dinamo had already become unreachable on the table. Therefore, Varaždin's players, upon entering the pitch, lined up in two rows and formed a guard of honour for Dinamo as a congratulation for the title won. Moreover, in the match prelude, the song "I'm returning to you, Zagreb..." echoed from the stadium speakers, which we could interpret as an allusion to the championship trophy's return.

Dinamo also reached 85 goals scored in this season and thus equalled their best performance in "Liga 10". They scored that many in 2014/15, came close in 2020/21 when they scored 84 and in 2013/14 when they found the net 83 times... The tally can, of course, be increased in the remaining four rounds.

Dion Drena Beljo shook the net again, increasing his tally at the top of the goalscoring charts to 29 goals. With this achievement, he is the best goalscorer in HNL in the "Liga 10" era, since summer 2013. The HNL all-time record holder is Eduardo da Silva with 34 goals in the 2006/07 season, while second place is shared by Goran Vlaović from 1993/94 and Beljo with his current tally in the ongoing season, both having scored 29 goals.

The Blues have also linked 19 league matches with 16 wins and three draws. In that same period, Dinamo added three wins in cup matches, which translates to 19 wins and three draws in 22 consecutive matches in domestic competitions.

Captain Josip Mišić further delighted the stands and "amplified" the celebratory tone with a masterful goal for 1:0. He hadn't scored for two years, and now he's scored twice in three weeks – recently against Osijek and now against Varaždin. Moreover, he thus marked his milestone 250th official appearance for Dinamo. Arbër Hoxha also marked a milestone, having recorded his 100th official appearance in the blue jersey against Rijeka at Maksimir, and before the match against Varaždin, he was presented with a commemorative gift by Velimir Zajec, former celebrated Dinamo captain and coach, current honorary club president.

The magnificent atmosphere was further enhanced by the supporters in the north stand with an impressive, aesthetically spectacular and emotional choreography. They unfurled a huge banner with an impressive artistic depiction of the Zagreb club's supporters: alongside the anniversary inscription with numbers 1911 – 2026 and stylised crests from the club's history, the drawing showed "ancient" fans from the Građanski era, the popular "Istočnjaci", and beside them their successors, the Bad Blue Boys. Moreover, Dinamo's ultras continued to garnish the match with additional choreography that is part of a series honouring the 40th anniversary of the group's founding, and the stand atmosphere was reminiscent of the 1994 Cup final.

In this match, Dinamo came close to scoring in the 15th minute when goalkeeper Josip Silić in a calm situation, while clearing the ball, made a short pass to teammate Mateo Barać who intended to launch it to the opposite half. However, Beljo rushed in, stuck out his foot and caught the ball which rebounded off the post. Varaždin also had a chance in the 29th minute when Aleksa Latković played right to Matej Vuk, who broke through alone against goalkeeper Dominik Livaković who prevented the visitors' goal.

Dinamo took the lead with a masterful Mišić move. Scott McKenna played a through ball from his own half to Luka Stojković, who skilfully played first-time to the right for Dinamo's captain who pulled the attack, approached 18 metres from goal and powerfully struck with his left foot into the top corner, with the ball rebounding off the crossbar into the goal.

The visitors equalised three minutes later when Frane Maglica, former member of Dinamo's youth team, crossed from the right side, and Antonio Boršić headed home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Gabriel Vidović in the 54th minute, after Mišić's through ball, broke through alone from the left side, but goalkeeper Silić saved the shot and prevented what seemed a certain goal. Bruno Goda tried shortly after from the left side, aiming for the far bottom corner, the ball grazed the visiting defender and whistled past the post.

The Blues "sealed" the victory in the 81st minute with another spectacular move. Stojković played through to Vidović, who sent it into the middle for Beljo who first-time powerfully fired into the top corner. The ball nearly ended up in the net for a third time when Ismaël Bennacer skilfully controlled the ball with his chest then struck a volley under the crossbar, but Silić saved his goal with a fine save.

Zagreb, 26 April 2026.

SuperSport HNL, Round 32

Dinamo – Varaždin 2:1

Maksimir Stadium

Dinamo: Livaković – Valinčić (70. Galešić), Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf (56. Goda) – Mišić; Lisica (56. Bakrar), Soldo (46. Vidović), Stojković, Hoxha (75. Bennacer) – Beljo

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Varaždin: Silić – Maglica, Lesjak (82. Mladenovski), Barać, Tepšić, Boršić – Vuk, Marina (82. Ilinković), Duvnjak (59. Tavares), Mamić (82. Puclin) – Latković (68. Canjuga)

Coach: Nikola Šafarić

Referee: Antonio Melnjak (Rijeka), Attendance: 14,356

Goalscorers: 1:0 Mišić (48.), 1:1 Boršić (51.), 2:1 Beljo (81.)