July 14, 2021 - Dinamo defeats Valur for a spot in the 2nd Champions League qualifying round!

Croatian football champion Dinamo advanced to the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League after defeating Valur 2:0 in the return match of the first round of the competition in Reykjavik. In the first match at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, Dinamo celebrated 3:2.

Luka Ivanušec scored in the 31st minute for 1:0, and Mislav Oršić in the 89th minute for the final 2:0. 

Dinamo won 3:2 in Zagreb last week after having a 3:0 lead and a missed penalty in the 82nd minute, after which the guests scored two goals in the last five minutes of the game. This time, Dinamo did not allow any drama. 

In the second qualifying round, Dinamo will play against Cypriot club Omonia. The first match is in Zagreb next week and the return match in Nicosia.

After Dinamo was weakened in the first match by playing without Croatia national team players, Damir Krznar did not want to risk anything this time, so from the first minute, Mislav Oršić, Bruno Petković, and Luka Ivanušec were in the team. Interestingly, a chance was also given to the Swiss Francois Moubandje, who has not been in Dinamo's plans so far and spent last season on loan at Alanyaspor.

"We can be satisfied; we have achieved our goal, the second round of qualifications follows, against Omonia Cyprus. Now we are shifting the focus to that game, and before that to the beginning of the HNL, i.e., Slaven Belupo. This match - calm, routine, again in some moments with black holes, but considering the beginning, all this is understandable, mostly, all in all - satisfied," said Dinamo coach Damir Krznar after the match.

It was not complete domination as in the first match at Maksimir.

"Valur stood firmly in the block without wanting to open, they increased their line, and that on this artificial grass slows down and makes the game harder. However, we were patient, and after 1:0, the matter was resolved," said Krznar and added:

"They created some chances from our mistakes, and we will have to work on that. But, it cost us nothing, and we move on."

Source: HRT

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July 7, 2021 - Dinamo tops Valur in the first match of the Champions League qualifiers at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. 

Croatian champions Dinamo defeated the Icelandic club Valur 3-2 in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers. Dinamo had the home pitch advantage, a 3-0 lead, and a series of missed opportunities. However, Valur shocked the Zagreb team at the end with two goals in one minute, leaving it completely open for the return match.

Dinamo was up 3-0 and had a penalty in the 82nd minute, which Ademi missed. Arijan Ademi (8, 72) and Lovro Majer (42-11m) scored for Dinamo, while Kristinn Sigurdsson (88) and Andri Adolphsson (90) scored for Valur. 

The return match is on July 13 in Reykjavik. After that, Dinamo will play against the Cypriot club Omonia if they advance to the second qualifying round.

"One calm, controlled game, and a routine victory turned into one crazy game. Still, in the end, we won. You don't normally have to grind your teeth with victories, but we really have to look into this one. After 3-0 and a penalty and a potential 4-0, we complicated it with a couple of unfortunate reactions and one black hole of 10 minutes. We lived too long in Ademi's missed penalty, and the opponent knew how to use it. The conclusion is simple, we will have to use all available means in Reykjavik and fight for the match we have already won," said Krznar and continued:

"Decreased concentration, a black hole. We conceded two really ridiculous goals, but two goals now have to make us serious and fill the plane for Iceland. Does that mean that Petković, Ivanušec, and Oršić will play? I don't know yet, but it means that all the players we have will be in the frame and will compete for the match. I repeat, it is not drama or panic, but we must be careful and concentrated there."

Dinamo has never started the European season so early. Dinamo was weakened against Valur by not playing its best players who are free after playing at the European Championship.

After a several-month break, the fans returned to Maksimir Stadium. However, only those with a Covid certificate could enter the stadium, and there were just over 1,000 spectators.

Source: HRT

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June 15, 2021 - Dinamo and Valur from Iceland will meet in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers after a draw decided the pairs on Tuesday. 

Dinamo found out about their opponent in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers, reports Index.hr.

The Croatian champion will play against Icelandic club Valur in the 1st qualifying round. Other potential rivals were Northern Ireland's Linfield, Maltese Hibernians, and one of the four clubs playing the preliminary round: Folgore (San Marino), Pristina (Kosovo), HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands), or Inter Club d'Escaldes (Andorra).

Valur last played in Europe in the 2019/2020 season, when they were eliminated by Slovenian club Maribor 5:0 in the Champions League, and then lost 5:1 in the Europa League against Bulgarian club Ludogorets. The season before that, the Icelandic representative reached the third qualifying round of the Europa League and lost to the Moldovan club Sheriff because of an away goal. 

Transfermarkt estimates the value of Valur at three million euros, and the most expensive footballer is the Danish striker Patrick Pedersen (400 thousand euros). Valur also has three footballers who have registered appearances for the national team. Birkir Mar Saevarsson played 98 games for Iceland, goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson defended in 76 games for the Iceland national team, and Kaj Leo Bartalsstovu wore the Faroe Islands jersey 27 times.

The draw for the second qualifying round, also in Nyon, will take place on Wednesday, starting at 12:00. Dinamo will then find out who they will play should they beat Valur. 

The first match of the 1st Champions League qualifying round will be played on July 6 or 7, while the return match is scheduled for July 13 or 14. Dinamo hosts the first game.

Due to great results in Europe in recent seasons, the Croatian champion will be the leader in all qualifying rounds.

Pairs:

Fola Esch (Luxembourg) - Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar)
Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) - Shamrock Rovers (Ireland)
Malmö FF (Sweden) - Riga (Latvia)
Bodo Glimt (Norway) - Legia Warsaw (Poland)
Connah's Quay Nomads (Wales) - Alashkert (Armenia)
HJK Helsinki (Finland) - Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro)
CFR Cluj (Romania) - Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Shkendija (Northern Macedonia) - Mura (Slovenia)
Teuta (Albania) - Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova)
Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia) - Nefchi Baku (Azerbaijan)
Maccabi Haifa (Israel) - Kairat (Kazakhstan)
Ludogorets (Bulgaria) - Shakhtar Soligorsk (Belarus)
Ferencvaros (Hungary) - winner of the preliminary round
Žalgiris (Lithuania) - Linfield (Northern Ireland)
Flora Tallinn (Estonia) - Hibernians (Malta)
DINAMO ZAGREB (CROATIA) - Valur (Iceland)

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