In just one year they visited Budapest twice, twice they faced Ferencvaros there and – the blues won both times. After Dinamo thundered past the greens in 1962 in the Central European Cup, defeating the hosts 5-1, a year later they celebrated again on their ground. The Maksimir players beat Ferencvaros away 1-0 and thus opened the path to their first of two European finals.

It was the first leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi-final, the later UEFA Cup, now Europa League. The goal was scored by Stjepan Lamza five minutes before the end. The Zagreb side later also won the return leg in Zagreb, triumphing 2-1 and advancing to the final where Valencia proved better over two matches.

Interestingly, Dinamo defeated Ferencvaros in all four mutual matches in just one year: in both group stage matches of the Central European Cup in 1962 and in both semi-final encounters of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup a year later.

This second Budapest clash is primarily remembered for the heavy downpour and stormy weather during which almost half of the spectators left the stadium mid-match. Moreover, Czechoslovakian referee Adolf Mach interrupted the match for 15 minutes due to weather conditions that were on the verge of being unplayable.

The goal came five minutes before the end when Ivica Cvitković crossed from the right wing, and Lamza received the ball at the "far post" and volleyed it into the net from seven meters.

Before the match, the blues were also encouraged by their former renowned coach, Hungarian Marton Bukovi, who was once a Ferencvaros player himself.

"Control the ball and you will win," Bukovi suggested to the Zagreb players in his charming and distinctive "Hungarian-Zagreb" dialect.

The Hungarian defense was troubled most by Stjepan Lamza and Berislav Ribić. Local journalists praised the complete blue team, highlighting the reliability of goalkeeper Zlatko Škorić, claimed that Branko Meštrović was impenetrable, admired the speed of backs Rudolf Belin and Mirko Charlie Braun, emphasized that Željko Perušić and Željko Matus securely and firmly held the defensive block in midfield, while in attack Lamza, Ribić and Slaven Zambata caused "chaos" for the hosts.

24. 4. 2004.

Varteks – Dinamo 3-4

In a football "treat" in Varaždin, Dinamo turned around Varteks' 3-1 lead into their own 4-3 victory in the final 16 minutes of the 6th round of the Championship League. Varaždin led with goals from Zoran Kastel and Nedim Halilović, Dumitru Mitu reduced the deficit, and Ivan Jolić increased it to 3-1 in the 70th minute. The comeback was initiated by Maksimir defender and captain Goce Sedloski who in the 74th minute took the ball in a scramble and from seven meters sent it into the net, reducing it to 3-2. In a scramble in Varteks' penalty area, defender Kristijan Polovanec deflected the ball into his own net for 3-3, while Branko Strupar secured victory for Dinamo with a goal two minutes before the end.