Dinamo Zagreb remain the dominant reference point in Croatian football: founded in 1911, based at Stadion Maksimir, and currently top of the HNL in the 2026-27 season. Their squad is sizeable – 44 players with an average age of 24 – and valued at around £49.5m by Transfermarkt.
Their European campaign has already taken them through the Champions League qualifying play-offs and into the Europa League league phase. Domestically, their recent form has been productive rather than spotless: wins over Lokomotiva Zagreb, Gorica, Varazdin and Rudes sit alongside a 4-2 defeat at Osijek and a 2-2 draw with Istra 1961.
At home, Dinamo have been assertive: averaging 2.6 goals scored and just 0.6 conceded per match. Away from Zagreb, the picture is looser. They still carry a threat, averaging 2 goals on the road, but conceding 3 per away match is a clear weakness. Dion Drena Beljo has led the scoring with 11 goals, with Lukas Kacavenda, Miha Zajc, Niko Galešić and Arber Hoxha contributing behind him.
For Celtic supporters, Dinamo look like an established European opponent with a strong home profile, a young squad, and enough attacking depth to punish loose defending. Their away record suggests they are not impermeable, but they remain a side to be treated seriously.
