Celtic had won 1-0 in their Glasgow, but the second leg in Zagreb saw a blue rhapsody unfold, with maestro Robert Prosinečki conducting the orchestra. The team was brilliantly led from the bench by our renowned strategist Zlatko Cico Kranjčar, who secured the first of his two Champions League qualifications with the blues.

Indeed, Prosinečki himself reminded everyone after the first away leg: "Both Partizan and MTK had 1-0 from the first match..." Both mentioned matches were played the previous season and in both cases the blues progressed. And such was the mood ahead of the second leg against Celtic. Even Silvio Marić, then a gifted young striker and favourite of the Maksimir faithful, casually remarked: "Don't get excited."

And indeed, Dinamo, still playing under the name Croatia at the time, convincingly won 3-0 and advanced to the Champions League. Alongside the three goals scored, the blues missed numerous other chances, especially in the second half.

Croatia dominated from the very beginning, and it was evident that the Zagreb side were patiently building their attacks, without rushing. Mark Viduka had already hit the post in the 15th minute, following a brilliant pass from Marić, after entering the penalty area.

However, the blues took the lead in the 23rd minute, and the packed Maksimir erupted. Marić received the ball about twenty metres from goal, with his back to goal, skilfully shook off his marker, switched the ball from his left to right foot and precisely fired it into the bottom corner.

Prosinečki struck a free kick from 20 metres in the 38th minute, but goalkeeper Jonathan Gould reacted brilliantly and prevented another goal.

However, a minute before the end of the first half, the blues extended their lead to two goals. Dario Šimić led the attack, played the ball into the penalty area for Marić, who was brought down by captain Tom Boyd with a foul. Referee Pierluigi Collina pointed to the penalty spot, and Prosinečki converted it into a goal.

Kranjčar's team created as many as four big chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but without the desired finish. However, in the 68th minute they managed to breach the opposition defence again. Maestro Prosinečki led his blues into the Champions League. He dribbled with the ball for about twenty metres, and when he approached the edge of the penalty area he stopped and from a balanced position left the opposition defence stranded. Then he "nutmegged" the goalkeeper as well and sent the ball into the opposite corner.

Until the end of the match, the Zagreb side created four more chances, but the Scottish goalkeeper confirmed with excellent reactions that he was the standout player in that lineup.

Celtic manager Jozef Vengloš said after the match: "We couldn't match such a strong rhythm of play and the high level of form of our opponents."