Dinamo Zagreb vs Qarabağ facts

Dinamo Zagreb and Qarabağ are both bidding for a return to the UEFA Champions League proper as they meet in Croatia in the first leg of their play-off tie.

Both clubs featured in the group stage under the competition's previous format, the last of Dinamo's eight appearances coming eight seasons ago and Qarabağ appearing in 2017/18. Each has experienced plenty of disappointment, however, 15 of Dinamo's 23 Champions League campaigns – including three of the last four – ending in the qualifying rounds, where Qarabağ's last five campaigns have also foundered.

This is the first game between the clubs. The return is in Baku on 28 August.

Form guide

Dinamo Zagreb

Record vs Azerbaijan clubs: W2 D2 L0 F7 A2
Home records vs Azerbaijan clubs: W2 D0 L0

All four of Dinamo's previous games against clubs from Azerbaijan have come in Champions League qualifying. They were 4-2 aggregate winners against Xäzär Länkäran in the 2007/08 first qualifying round (1-1 a, 3-1 h) and beat Neftçi 3-0 in the second qualifying round in 2011/12 (3-0 h, 0-0 a).

Dinamo have reached the Champions League group stage eight times, most recently in 2022/23 when they finished fourth on four points in a section that also included Chelsea, AC Milan and Salzburg.

The Zagreb club had beaten Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt to reach the group stage (0-1 a, 4-1 h aet), making their record in Champions League play-offs W6 L3.

Dinamo lost 3-4 on aggregate to AEK Athens in last season's Champions League third qualifying round and were then beaten 4-5 over two legs by Sparta Praha in the UEFA Europa League qualifying play-off. That took them into the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, where they finished second in their section behind Viktoria Plzeň but ahead of Astana and Ballkani having won three games and lost three; they edged out Spain's Real Betis in the knockout round play-offs (1-0 a, 1-1 h) before losing an eventful last-16 tie against PAOK (2-0 h, 1-5 a).

This is the Croatian club's first European tie of 2024/25.

Modri have won five of their last eight home European games, losing two.

Dinamo claimed a record 25th Croatian league title in 2023/24, their seventh successive triumph, to make it 35 league titles overall. They also lifted the Croatian Cup to win a 13th domestic double, and a first in three seasons.

Qarabağ

This is Qarabağ's first game against a club from Croatia.

Qarabağ's sole appearance in the Champions League group stage came in 2017/18 – the only time a club from Azerbaijan has featured in the competition proper. They finished fourth in a section also including Chelsea, Atlético de Madrid and Roma – although they picked up their only points by holding the Spanish side to draws both home (0-0) and away (1-1).

All five of Qarabağ's subsequent Champions League campaigns ended in the qualifying rounds, including a third qualifying round loss to Polish side Raków Częstochowa in 2023/24 (2-3 a, 1-1 h).

That sent Gurban Gurbanov's side into the Europa League, where they survived two qualifying rounds to reach the group stage, finishing second behind Bayer Leverkusen in their section. They then eliminated Portugal's Braga in the knockout round play-offs (4-2 a, 2-3 h aet) but conceded twice in added time of the second leg to lose their reunion with Leverkusen in the last 16 (2-2 h, 2-3 a).

Qarabağ's record in Champions League play-offs is W1 L1. They overcame Copenhagen on away goals in 2017/18 (1-0 h, 1-2 a) but lost to Viktoria Plzeň in 2022/23 (0-0 h, 1-2 a).

Qarabağ have scored 15 goals in their first four Champions League games in 2024/25, easing past Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in the second qualifying round (2-0 a, 5-0 h) before a remarkable tie against Ludogorets of Bulgaria (1-2 a, 7-2 a aet) in which they scored four times in extra time in the second leg.

The Horsemen have won seven of their last 11 away European games – including both this season – losing three.

Based in Baku, Qarabağ won their third successive league title – and 11th overall – in 2023/24, also winning the Azerbaijan Cup to complete the domestic double for the sixth time.

Links and trivia

Qarabağ midfielder Marko Vešović made 84 league appearances for Croatian side Rijeka between 2014 and 2017, helping the club win a league and cup double in 2016/17.

Dinamo defender Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel and Qarabağ winger Hamidou Keyta were Saint-Étienne team-mates in 2016/17.

Qarabağ goalkeeper Fabijan Buntić represented Croatia at Under-18 and U19 level. Born in Stuttgart, he has never represented a Croatian club.