Dinamo Zagreb qualifies for the UEFA Champions League

TRONDHEIM, 27 August 2019 – Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb have qualified for the Champions League group stages after a 1-1 draw against Rosenborg at Lerkendal stadium in Trondheim, Norway tonight. 

Dinamo Zagreb won the play-off tie 3-1 on aggregate thanks to their first leg win last week in Zagreb. 

Dinamo Zagreb would see their 2-0 lead from the first leg at Maksimir stadium cut in half in just the 12th minute tonight when Akintola scored off a rebound. 

Rosenborg kept piling the pressure on, testing Dinamo keeper Livakovic several times. Dinamo were lucky to be only behind by one at the break, but  almost leveled on the night in the 56th minute when captain Ademi headed just wide from a Olmo cross. 

Substitute Gojak went close ten munutes later but he had his shot blocked by the Rosenborg keeper. It would be Gojak who would get Dinamo level in the 71st minute when his left-foot bomb from outside the box beat the Rosenborg keeper. 

The away goal meant Rosenborg would need to score three times in the last 19 minutes and it was not to be as Dinamo hung on for a famous result on the night. The win guarantees the club around 25 million euros for making the Champions League group stages, whilst every club in the Croatian first division will benefit to the tune of 3 million kuna each. 

The last time Dinamo Zagreb were in the Champions League group stages was back in the 2016-7 season when they finished bottom of a group consisting of Juventus, Lyon and Sevilla. 

The draw for the groups for this season’s Champions League will be made on Thursday in Monaco.