The match between AEK and Dinamo was unfortunately played in the shadow of tragic scenes that occurred 12 days earlier. According to the draw and original schedule, AEK was supposed to host the first match in Athens on August 8th. Dinamo had arrived in Athens a day earlier, but in the evening hours of August 7th, street riots broke out in which 29-year-old Michalis Katsouris, a member of AEK's ultras group, lost his life.

The match was postponed due to the tragic event, which also led to a different schedule. The Zagreb match on August 15th was originally supposed to be the second leg. The date ultimately remained the same, but instead of being the second leg, due to schedule changes, it became the first match. The second leg was moved to Saturday, August 19th, in Athens.

The hero for the home team was former Dinamo defender Domagoj Vida, now wearing AEK's jersey. Exactly 11 years after he scored with his head for Dinamo's progression in the 8th minute of stoppage time against Bulgarian Ludogorets, he "decided against his former club" in an almost identical manner – stopping the blues on the European stage. In a new, uncertain, extremely tense match, AEK and Dinamo players in Athens played 2-2 in a clash where the Zagreb side led 2-0 until the 2nd minute of stoppage time and held qualification to the Champions League play-offs. In the first match in Zagreb, AEK won 2-1. This way, Dinamo continued their European season in the Europa League play-offs where they were defeated by Sparta Prague and moved to the Conference League group stage.

Dinamo was close to a third goal in the 70th minute when Dario Špikić found himself in a promising counter-attack situation down the right flank, shooting from about ten meters, but goalkeeper Cican Stanković prevented Dinamo from extending their lead to 3-0. The punishment came in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, following a set piece. A corner kick was delivered, Sergio Araujo met the deflected ball at the "far post" and from about ten meters volleyed into the opposite corner, reducing the deficit to 1-2. And after that – shock for the Zagreb players. Norwegian referee Espen Eskås, after reviewing VAR, pointed to the penalty spot for the Greeks. Robert Ljubičić and Sergio Araujo were jumping in Dinamo's penalty area. The ball bounced off Araujo's chest into Ljubičić's hand, which was just a few centimeters away, during the jump. That was enough for the referee to award a penalty. Levi Garcia stepped up, but Dominik Livaković managed to save it. However, Vida rushed to the rebound and headed the ball into the net for 2-2 and AEK's progression.

Dinamo had everything in their hands until stoppage time... The final action was played at the very end of the first half, in the last, 2nd minute of stoppage time. Marko Bulat delivered from a free kick, in the continuation of the action Sadegh Moharrami crossed from the right to the far post, Bruno Petković outjumped his opponent and got his head to the ball, and at the edge of the penalty area Bogdan Mikhaylichenko met it and also headed it... Goalkeeper Stanković saved the ball, but Josip Šutalo rushed in and slotted it into the net.

The Zagreb players created a masterful move in the 65th minute for a 2-0 lead, a goal that was taking the blue team to the play-offs. Ljubičić passed short to Petković from the right side, and he prepared another Dinamo goal with a skillful touch. While he had two teammates making runs from the left, Petković lucidly and precisely sent a through ball down the middle where Ljubičić ran in and effectively finished first-time with his left foot into the net.

Livaković made a brilliant save in the 17th minute to prevent the hosts from scoring. Lazaros Rota crossed from the right, Steven Zuber struck powerfully from seven meters, but the Maksimir goalkeeper made a masterful reaction save.