It was the premiere on the new Maksimir pitch. With an inspired and attractive performance, Dinamo outplayed Scottish side Hearts 4-0 in the first leg of the Europa League play-off and practically already secured their place in the group stage of the competition. True, the Scots later won the return leg in Edinburgh 2-0, but that, of course, was not enough for a complete turnaround.

The Zagreb side thus provided some consolation to their fans after the narrow defeat over two legs against Salzburg in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League, after which they moved to the Europa League play-off. Dinamo took the lead as early as the 5th minute when Sammir crossed from the right side towards goal, and Mario Mandžukić headed the ball into the net from close to the goal line "at the far post". Dinamo started powerfully, creating chances, Pedro Morales hit the crossbar in the 21st minute with an attempted lob from 20 metres...

In the 37th minute Sammir shot, goalkeeper Marian Kello saved but straight to Dimitrios Papadopoulos who simply stuck out his foot and increased the lead. Morales initiated an attack in the 56th minute, played through Ivica Vrdoljak on the left side, and he skillfully dribbled past the opposing defender and from 15 metres placed the ball into the far corner. Three minutes later Igor Bišćan headed home from five metres, following Morales' corner kick, to make it 4-0. Near the end of the match Papadopoulos also hit the post.