Dinamo Zagreb’s four-month unbeaten league streak is still alive despite going 1–0 down against fifth-placed Slaven Belupo. A second-half hat-trick from the league’s top scorer helped extend Zagreb’s lead at the top to 13 points. Zagreb manager, Mario Kovačević will be delighted with how his team responded after a poor first half.
Belupo took the lead against the run of play after being under pressure for the majority of the first half. If you are wondering where Scottish international and former Nottingham Forest player Scott McKenna now earns his living, he very nearly opened the scoring for the league leaders, but his towering header was saved by Osman Hadžikić.
Although the pressure was mounting on Belupo, Allen Grgić scored a superb goal to get his first of the season. The Croatian found himself in plenty of space on the left-hand side and curled the ball into the top-right corner to open the scoring, shocking everyone in the stadium, especially Croatia’s number one, Dominik Livaković.
Slaven Belupo managed to hold onto the lead until half-time and even until the 64th minute. It was a penalty that helped Zagreb get back into the game. A header from Dion Beljo struck the hand of a Belupo defender, and it was the man who won the penalty who scored his first of the game.
Six minutes later the league leaders were at it again. When Luka Stojković put former Bayern Munich player Gabriel Vidović in on goal, there was only going to be one outcome. The two-time Bundesliga champion was the calmest man in the stadium, with the press box erupting as the Croatian gave the hosts the lead — something I had not seen before.
In the 74th minute you could see why Dinamo Zagreb are 25-time Croatian league winners. Despite not winning it last year, the title will surely be returning to Zagreb once again.
A long ball over the top from Luka Stojković was met by the lightning-quick substitute Mateo Lisica, who had come off the bench. Lisica swept the ball across the face of goal for Beljo, who netted his 16th goal of the season and possibly his easiest.
The 17th soon arrived in the 81st minute and was much more difficult. A fantastic ball from Mina Zajc allowed the towering striker to take one touch and make it all about him and the goalkeeper. The league’s top scorer showed the composure of a striker with 17 goals in 26 matches and slotted it under the helpless Hadžikić.
Despite Dinamo’s dominance, Slaven Belupo showed exactly why they had been unbeaten in their last five games before facing the Blues, displaying fantastic fight throughout. The team sitting fifth in the league put together a flowing attack with five minutes to go, with Filip Mazar finishing the move wonderfully. This did not seem to bother the Dinamo Zagreb fans, who were still in high spirits and singing their hearts out.
The game came to a close with zero additional minutes. Zagreb are one step closer to clinching their 26th league title and their first since the 2023/24 season.
Dinamo Zagreb:
Livaković, Stojković, Zajc, Beljo, Vidović (Hoxha 81′), Soldo, Pérez (Goda 46′), Vailinčić (Galešić 61′), McKenna, Topić (Lisica 60′), Domínguez
Unused Substitutes:
Nevistić, Filipović, Goda, Tabinas, Galešić, Mandume, Šunja
Goals:
Beljo 64′, 74′, 81′; Vidović 71′
Slaven Belupo:
Hadžikić, Medimorec, Jakir (Žuta 85′), Kovačić, Dabro (Nestorovski 64′), Mitrović, Čubelić (Crepulja), Mazar, Krušelj, Lepinjica (Bošnjak 73′), Grgić (Šivaleć 73′)
Unused Substitutes:
Marković, Čović, Katalinić, Božić, Qestaj, Crepulja, Jović, Isasegi
Goals:
Grgić 36′, Mazar 85′
Attendance: 37,168
