Tickets for Dinamo Zagreb vs FC Thun in the Champions League qualifying second leg at Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

Dinamo Zagreb - FC Thun: everything remains open ahead of the decider at Maksimir

Dinamo Zagreb and FC Thun enter the second leg with the score completely level. The first meeting in Thun ended 1:1, so the evening at Maksimir will decide who continues toward the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The match will be played at Stadion Maksimir, at Maksimirska cesta 128 in Zagreb, starting at 20:00.

The outcome of the first match left both sides with enough reason for optimism. Thun showed that it can force Dinamo into uncomfortable duels, long balls and battles for every rebound. Dinamo, on the other hand, found a better rhythm in the second half, created more dangerous situations and equalised through Miha Zajc's late goal.

Tickets for this match are in high demand among supporters, so it is worth securing a place in time.

The first meeting showed where the greatest dangers lie

Thun took the lead in the first encounter after a simple but precisely executed move. Right-back Fabio Fehr pushed high up the pitch, delivered the ball in front of goal, and Brighton Labeau finished the attack with a header. That goal clearly illustrates the Swiss champion's plan: quickly moving the play forward, attacking the space behind the full-backs and maintaining a strong presence in the penalty area.

Dinamo had problems with second balls and set pieces. Coach Mario Kovačević openly admitted after the match that his team had not reacted well enough in such situations. Thun did not try to retain possession for long at any cost. Whenever it felt pressure, it sent the ball toward the forwards, then aggressively collected the rebounds and forced Dinamo's defence to play while facing its own goal.

The key details of the first match were:

• Brighton Labeau put Thun ahead after a cross from Fabio Fehr.
• Dinamo twice saw the home defenders clear the ball off the goal line.
• Miha Zajc equalised in the 86th minute after a pass from Fran Topić.
• Ivan Filipović saved two consecutive shots immediately before Thun's goal.
• Dinamo became more dangerous after Arbër Hoxha, Lukas Kačavenda and Fran Topić came on.

The way Dinamo reached 1:1 is particularly important. Kačavenda intercepted the ball high in the opposition half, Topić carried it toward the right side, and Zajc completed the move with a first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area. This is a model the home side can try to repeat: aggressively winning the ball close to Thun's goal, quickly changing direction and shooting before the defensive block has time to close down.

Dinamo must speed up its play around the penalty area

Dinamo started in Thun with Dion Drena Beljo at the head of the attack, Mislav Oršić and Mateo Lisica on the wings, and Gabriel Vidović and Miha Zajc behind the striker. The idea was to have enough technical quality between the lines, but composure in the final pass was lacking in the first half.

Beljo remains the main finishing point of the attack. In the previous season, he scored 38 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions, so Thun's defence cannot allow him to receive the ball in the central area of the penalty box. In the first meeting, he had a chance immediately after Thun's goal and a dangerous header following a corner, but he did not find the net.

It will be important for Dinamo not to leave him isolated between the centre-backs. If Zajc and Vidović move close enough to him, Beljo can lay off balls and open space for runners arriving from deeper positions. If the home side circulates the ball too slowly, Thun will set up two compact lines without major difficulty and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.

Miha Zajc enters the second leg as the man who saved Dinamo from defeat. His role is not merely to finish attacks. He must connect Mišić with the front four, make himself available between Thun's midfielders and recognise at the right moment when to accelerate the play and when to calm possession.

Dinamo's possible options from the bench

Fran Topić showed with his assist that he can bring directness on the right side. Arbër Hoxha offers penetration and a change of pace, while Lukas Kačavenda can increase pressure on the ball in the final third. Kovačević will therefore have the opportunity to change the character of the match without completely abandoning the basic structure.

Dinamo will once again be without Luka Stojković, who is serving a suspension carried over from the previous European season. This reduces the number of creative solutions in midfield, but the first meeting showed that Zajc, Vidović and Kačavenda can share the responsibility.

Thun is not a typical away side coming only to defend the result

FC Thun won the Swiss championship after an exceptional season and then changed its coach and part of the squad during the summer. Mauro Lustrinelli left after winning the title, and Gian-Luca Privitelli took charge of the team. In his first competitive match, the new coach retained the clear elements of play that made Thun a difficult opponent: discipline without the ball, quick transitions and courageous full-backs.

In Thun, the starting line-up was arranged in a 4-4-2 formation. Niklas Steffen played in goal behind centre-backs Jan Bamert and Marco Bürki, while Fehr and Michael Heule covered the flanks. Nils Reichmuth, Justin Roth, Valmir Matoshi and Nico Maier formed a hard-working midfield line, while Furkan Dursun and Labeau attacked Dinamo's back line.

Thun's problem will be the different intensity of the pressure. At Maksimir, Dinamo will probably try to close down the visitors earlier, force them into unprepared clearances and prevent Fehr from freely attacking the available space. If the visitors manage to bypass the first wave of pressure, opportunities for two-against-two situations against the home centre-backs will open up.

Confirmed details concerning player availability include:

• Luka Stojković cannot play for Dinamo because of suspension.
• Genis Montolio is unavailable for FC Thun following a serious knee injury and surgery.
• The core of Thun's line-up consists of the players who started the first meeting, with several attacking options available from the bench.
• Dinamo has Hoxha, Kačavenda and Topić ready as options for changing the tempo.

What qualification means for both teams

Dinamo and Thun are not playing merely for one victory. Qualification brings a tie against the winner of KI Klaksvik - FK Kauno Žalgiris in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The team that is eliminated will continue its European season in the third qualifying round of the Europa League, where a meeting with the loser of Vikingur Reykjavik - Hapoel Beer Sheva is scheduled.

For the Swiss champion, qualification would be another step after a season that changed the club's history. Thun does not have Dinamo's squad depth or the same amount of experience, but it has a team accustomed to winning together. In Zagreb, it will not have the support of a sold-out home stadium as it did in the first match, but it can play without the burden of being the favourite.

Ticket sales for this match are under way. The lower west, upper west and lower north stands are open, so places in the available sectors may disappear quickly.

Maksimir and the atmosphere of the second leg

Stadion Maksimir opened in 1912 and has been renovated several times. Not all stands will be available for this match, which changes the distribution of the crowd but not necessarily the volume. The greatest pressure is expected from the north stand, while the west stands provide a view of the play that is particularly interesting in a tactically tense second leg.

Before the first match, Dinamo played three friendly matches with a combined goal difference of 16:2, including a 4:2 victory over Koper. Thun drew 1:1 with Elversberg and lost 1:2 to Waldhof Mannheim in its final warm-up matches, but then confirmed against Dinamo that the friendly results had not diminished its competitive solidity.

Thun's supporters also have reason for confidence. The first match was sold out, FC Thun's fifth consecutive home fixture in front of full stands. Their club arrives in Zagreb as the reigning Swiss champion, not as a team that has already accepted elimination.

It is worth securing tickets in time and planning to arrive early enough for entry to the stands to proceed without rushing.

Getting to the stadium and practical information

Maksimir is located east of central Zagreb, along Maksimirska cesta and close to the large city park. For visitors arriving from other countries, the simplest option is first to reach the wider city centre and then continue by public transport toward the stadium.

During July 2026, temporary changes are in place on Zagreb's tram network because of construction work, so the route should be checked on the day of the match. It is not advisable to rely on an old route map or previous experience of the city. Stops along Maksimirska cesta provide pedestrian access to the stadium, but the final part of the journey may be slowed by the larger number of supporters and possible traffic restrictions.

For a calmer arrival, it is useful to follow several rules:

• Set off toward the stadium earlier and allow extra time for security checks.
• Check changes to city transport on the day of the match.
• Do not count on finding a free parking space immediately next to the stadium.
• Have your ticket and QR code ready before reaching the checkpoint.
• Check the stand and entrance markings before joining a queue.

The club's ticket sales notice states that spectators should display the QR code to pass through the checkpoints more quickly. The same notice does not state the exact time at which the entrances will open, so it is reasonable to follow new organisational information and not arrive immediately before kick-off.

Duels that could decide the match

The first important duel will be Beljo against Bürki and Bamert. If Dinamo manages to supply the striker with balls from the area between the full-back and centre-back, Thun's defence will have to narrow and leave space for Zajc or Oršić. If the visitors keep Beljo with his back to goal and without support, the home side could once again finish with plenty of possession but too few clear shots.

The second duel is on Dinamo's left side. Fehr showed in Thun how dangerous he can be when given space to build momentum and deliver a cross. The home left winger will have to track his forward runs, and the full-back must not be left alone against two players. Stopping Fehr before the cross is simpler than defending against Labeau in the air.

The third is the space around Josip Mišić. Thun will look for loose balls there after long passes. If Mišić, Zajc and Vidović win the majority of those situations, Dinamo can maintain pressure and attack in waves. If Roth and Matoshi are first to the ball, the visitors will gain a breather and an opportunity to attack an unorganised defence.

The final factor is the bench. Dinamo equalised in the first match through a move involving two substitutes. Thun also has forwards Christopher Ibayi and Layton Stewart, as well as midfield options that can refresh the contest. In a match that may go beyond 90 minutes, energy management and well-timed substitutions can be just as important as the starting line-up.

Sources:
- Dinamo Zagreb - report, line-ups and key events from the first match in Thun.
- Dinamo Zagreb - statements by coach Mario Kovačević and Miha Zajc after the 1:1 result.
- Dinamo Zagreb - information about tickets, open stands and the use of the QR code.
- FC Thun - match preview, squad changes and Dion Drena Beljo's statistics.
- FC Thun - information about coach Gian-Luca Privitelli, Genis Montolio's injury and possible opponents in the next round.
- ZET - current changes to tram routes during July 2026.
- Dinamo Zagreb - historical information about Stadion Maksimir.