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Looking to move one step closer to the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb and Kauno Zalgiris meet in the first leg of their third qualifying-round tie.
Having won the Croatian top flight last season, Dinamo entered the competition in the second qualifying round, where they narrowly overcame Swiss side Thun after following up a 1-1 draw away from home with a dramatic 3-2 victory in Zagreb.
Kauno Zalgiris, meanwhile, have had to navigate through two qualifying rounds to reach this stage, overcoming Kosovo outfit Drita 4-3 on aggregate before edging past Faroese side Klaksvik 1-0 over two legs.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Kauno Zalgiris key stats
- Dinamo Zagreb are the most successful club in Croatian football history, having won 26 league titles, 18 Croatian Cups, eight Croatian Super Cups and the 1966-67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
- The Blues scored 93 goals across 36 league matches last season, 32 more than the next-highest scorers in the Croatian top flight.
- Zeljko Sopic has been in charge of Kauno Zalgiris for seven matches, winning four and drawing three.
- The Green-Whites currently sit top of the TOPLYGA and boast the best attacking and defensive records in the division this season.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Kauno Zalgiris preview: Who will gain the upper hand in the opening leg?
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Kauno Zalgiris — Tale of the Tape
| Dinamo Zagreb | vs | Kauno Zalgiris |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Position | 1st |
| 3 | Points | 34 |
| 2 | Goals For | 38 |
| 0 | Goals Against | 15 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 10 |
| 1st / 3rd | Home / Away Rank | 3rd / 3rd |
Following their narrow second qualifying-round win over Thun, Mario Kovacevic's side returned to domestic action last Friday, beginning their title defence with a 2-0 victory over Slaven Belupo.
The 2025-26 campaign was a hugely successful one for Dinamo Zagreb, who claimed their 26th league title and 18th Croatian Football Cup, further cementing their status as the country's dominant force.
Despite their domestic success, they will be hoping for a stronger European campaign this time around after struggling in the Europa League last season, winning just three of their eight league-phase fixtures and finishing 23rd out of 36 teams.
With three competitive matches already played this season, the only concern for Kovacevic will be the manner of their Champions League opener, where they were forced to come from behind against a side they were expected to beat comfortably.
Dinamo entered the tie against Thun as heavy favourites but returned home with the scores level after a 1-1 draw in Switzerland.
They then fell 2-0 behind in the second leg before producing a dramatic comeback, with Dion Drena Beljo and Lukas Kacavenda scoring within four minutes to force extra time.
Moris Valincic eventually completed the turnaround with a 112th-minute winner, although Dinamo's struggles against Thun will provide Kauno Zalgiris with confidence ahead of their visit to Croatia.
The visitors have also endured a difficult route to this stage, with both of their previous qualifying ties proving to be closely fought affairs.
Kauno Zalgiris drew their opening legs against Drita and Klaksvik, while they were forced to rely on late drama in the return fixture against the Kosovo side after falling 2-1 behind before an 82nd-minute equaliser and 94th-minute winner from Amine Benchaib secured progression.
Their second-round tie against Klaksvik was another low-scoring affair, with 175 minutes passing before Leon Krekovic's 85th-minute strike finally separated the two sides and booked their place in this tie.
Unlike Dinamo, Kauno Zalgiris are already well into their domestic campaign after 20 league matches and currently sit top of the TOPLYGA.
Zeljko Sopic's side have scored 38 goals and conceded just 15 in those matches, with no side in the Lithuanian top flight possessing a better record in either category.
However, history is against them, as this will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs, with Dinamo possessing far greater experience on the European stage.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Kauno Zalgiris form guide & betting tips
| Dinamo Zagreb | vs | Kauno Zalgiris |
|---|---|---|
WDDWW |
Form | WWWDW |
| 3 | Points | 6 |
| 1st | Form Table | 5th |
| 10 | Goals For | 11 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 2 |
W |
Croatian Football League / TOPLYGA form | LWDWW |
Whispers predicts: Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 Kauno Zalgiris
Dinamo Zagreb head into the first leg as overwhelming favourites and should have enough quality to secure a home advantage ahead of the return fixture.
However, Kauno Zalgiris have already shown during qualifying that they are difficult to break down and are yet to lose under Sopic , with their defensive record suggesting they will look to keep the tie alive for as long as possible.
We expect a disciplined display from the visitors, but Dinamo's attacking quality and home advantage should see them claim a 2-0 victory.
Therefore, we are backing Under 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score – No, which are priced at 27/20 and 4/9 respectively.
> Dinamo Zagreb to win at 1/7 | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 27/20 | Likelihood: Probable
> Both Teams To Score – No at 4/9 | Likelihood: Probable