Petravić ahead of Dinamo's second leg: 'Even a changed lineup shouldn't have problems'

Dinamo Zagreb is poised to play the away leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris, holding a substantial 5-0 advantage from the first match in Zagreb. The return leg, scheduled for Thursday evening in Kaunas, is widely expected to be a mere formality given the perceived gulf in quality between the two clubs.

“

I had to step away from football for a while, but now I'm fit and full of information, good training things. I know I can't start from the top right away, I'm not one of those who were lucky and started at the top immediately, I have to start small again, but that was my path from the beginning, I'm ready to start from the bottom again.

Analyst Damir Petravić, a former player and coach with experience in Lithuanian football, echoed this sentiment. He stated that while Kauno Žalgiris is a decent club within the Lithuanian league, they are simply outmatched by Dinamo. Petravić noted that the 5-0 scoreline was not surprising, emphasizing that Dinamo is at least one level above their Lithuanian counterparts.

Petravić, who previously coached Žalgiris Vilnius, offered insights into the Lithuanian league. He described it as having three to four competitive clubs, including both Žalgiris teams. The league operates with specific financial regulations, requiring clubs to present budgets for the entire season to participate. Recently, the league was reduced to nine teams because one club failed to secure its finances. The season runs from late February to November, with a structure that includes initial preparations and further physical development during international breaks.

“

The 5-0 wasn't a surprise to me; Kaunas is quite a new club that is quite good and high quality for the Lithuanian league, they will also be good in the Conference League once they are more organized, but they are still too weak for Dinamo, Dinamo is at least one step above them.

Regarding Dinamo's coach, Željko Sopić, traveling to Lithuania despite the comfortable lead, Petravić saw it as a logical decision for Sopić, who is currently without a club and presented with an opportunity with the Lithuanian champions. Petravić fondly recalled his time coaching in Vilnius, where his team achieved European qualification, though they were ultimately outmatched at that higher level.

“

A little surprise for me too, but on the other hand, when you don't have a club and you are offered something this high quality, I don't see why he wouldn't go to Lithuania, they are champions and are now fighting for first place.