Zlatko Tripić’s 39th-minute equaliser stripped Dinamo Zagreb of the advantage it had built inside 10 minutes, leaving the Champions League play-off level at 2-2 before the return in Stavanger.
Dinamo Zagreb storms ahead through Beljo and Lisica
Dinamo made the exact start a home side needs in a tie of this scale. D. Beljo struck in the sixth minute after a move involving Matteo Perez Vinlöf and Moris Valinčić, with the goal confirmed following a VAR check.
Four minutes later, M. Lisica finished calmly after Beljo seized on Henrik Falchener’s error and supplied the final pass. Dinamo threatened to put the first leg beyond Viking’s reach in the 23rd minute, but Miha Zajc’s effort was kept out with help from the post.
Viking rally as Christiansen cuts back and Tripić levels
Viking did not allow the early damage to define their night. P. Christiansen reduced the deficit in the 26th minute after Josip Mišić failed to clear a low cross, with Tobias Moi setting up the finish.
The comeback was complete 13 minutes later. After Valinčić’s mistake, Moi again found the decisive pass and Tripić beat Ivan Nevistić to make it 2-2. Zlatko Tripić’s numbers will show one defining finish, but its consequence was much larger: Viking left Zagreb with the tie reset.
Dinamo Zagreb cannot turn control into a winner
Dinamo dominated the territory after the break, holding 60% possession and producing 21 shots to Viking’s six. Yet the visitors matched them with three shots on target, while Dinamo’s eight corners and 426 accurate passes, compared with three corners and 259 passes for Viking, did not yield a third goal.
Mislav Oršić hit the post in the 73rd minute and Smail Prevljak could not make a 91st-minute opening count. Both sides collected one yellow card, while Dinamo committed 11 fouls to Viking’s nine.
Dinamo Zagreb face a Stavanger decider
The return is set for Wednesday, 26 August at 21:00 in Stavanger, with no side holding a lead. The winner reaches the Champions League league phase; the loser moves into the Europa League league phase.
Match Information
Competition: UEFA Champions League, Play-offs
Date & Time: Tuesday 18 August 2026, 21:00 CET
Venue: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Referee: Serdar Gozubuyuk, Netherlands
