This was the final appearance for the Blues in a brilliant, historic European season that concluded in the Europa League quarter-finals. Dinamo travelled to Spain where a solid, flowing and inspired Villarreal won 2-1, confirming their 1-0 victory from the first leg in Zagreb and advancing to the semi-finals.

We remember this season for Dinamo's historic progression to the quarter-finals following a sensational comeback against Tottenham. But we also remember it for three record holders: Arijan Ademi reached the top of the club's rankings with 84 appearances as the player with the most matches played in UEFA competitions, Dominik Livaković topped the goalkeeper rankings with 44 appearances as the keeper with the most European matches, surpassing Dražen Ladić who stopped at 43 that very evening, while Mislav Oršić became Dinamo's best European goalscorer, adding to his tally that night to reach 18 goals. Their overall European records at Dinamo would later be completed with even more impressive numbers: Ademi finished with 110 matches, Livaković with 76, while Oršić and Bruno Petković are joint top scorers with 28 goals each.

Just a brief lapse in concentration at the end of the first half in Spain was enough for the clever and cunning hosts to turn the match in their favour. Gerard Moreno slipped the ball behind the Maksimir defence in the 36th minute, where Samuel Chukwueze collected it, crossed in front of goal, and Paco Alcacer easily deflected it home. Although the assistant referee initially flagged Chukwueze offside from Moreno's pass, VAR review ultimately awarded the goal. Just two minutes before half-time, Moreno found the ball in a scramble inside the penalty area and managed to send it into the net while falling.

Dinamo's hopes briefly flared in the 74th minute when Oršić reduced the deficit. Captain Ademi drove the attack down the left flank, played through Oršić, and in the continuation of the move, Petković brilliantly and cleverly backheeled the ball in the penalty area. Oršić collected it and placed it from the left into the far bottom corner. The hosts created problems in Dinamo's penalty area on several more occasions, hitting the post twice, while Livaković made two spectacular saves to keep the ball out.