Dinamo faces Lithuanian champions Žalgiris in Champions League qualifiers

Dinamo Zagreb begins its Champions League qualifying campaign today, facing Lithuanian champions Žalgiris at home. After overcoming Swiss side Thun in the previous round with a 4-3 aggregate score, Dinamo enters this second-round tie as a strong favorite.

The first leg is scheduled for Maksimir Stadium, with the return match set to take place in Lithuania a week later. Dinamo's coach, Mario Kovačević, acknowledged the favorite's tag but stressed the importance of performance on the pitch. "I haven't shied away from the favorite role, but we need to show it on the field," Kovačević stated at a press conference. He also noted that Žalgiris is a serious team with good players and a coach, Željko Sopić, who knows Dinamo well.

Žalgiris's squad includes three Croatian players, one of whom, Ivan Fiolić, is a former Dinamo player. The Lithuanian team has also recently added Gabriel Debeljuh to its ranks. The match will be broadcast live on MAX Sport 1, and Večernji list will provide text commentary on its portal.

This encounter is part of Dinamo's ongoing effort to secure a place in Europe's premier club competition. The team's performance in these early qualifying rounds is crucial for their aspirations in the Champions League.

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I haven't shied away from the favorite role, but we need to show it on the field. It's not like Žalgiris is here for no reason; they have good players, they are a serious team, and they have our coach who knows us well. A lot depends on us...