MADRID, 20 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb have put one foot in the new Champions League after winning clearly (3-0) against Azerbaijan’s Qarabag on Tuesday, while French side Lille also made good progress against Czech side Slavia Prague (2-0) and modest Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt will force Serbia’s Red Star to come back (2-1).
At the Maksimir Stadium, Dinamo Zagreb did not give Qarabag much of a chance and they are already close to qualifying for the new Champions League group stage that will be launched this year. The Croatian champions were far superior, but did not decide the first leg until the final stretch of the match.
Midfielder Marko Pjaca opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark in the capital and despite Dinamo’s efforts, they did not extend their lead until the final quarter of an hour when Sandro Kulenovic scored twice in the 75th and 80th minutes after coming off the bench.
Less clear, but also almost decisive, was the victory of French Lille at home against Czech Slavia Prague, who beat them 2-0 after a match in which they dominated against a rival who sought to defend rather than attack.
The home side had the best chances in the first 45 minutes, where they suffered a scare at the end, but it was at the start of the second half that they took the lead through Jonathan David. With the game more comfortable for them, Kosovo winger Edon Zhegrova gave them more peace of mind for the return leg in the Czech capital in the 77th minute.
Finally, in the third match of the playoffs held this Tuesday, the modest Bodo/Glimt will defend a 2-1 against Red Star at the ‘Little Maracana’ in Belgrade next week to make history and rub shoulders with the elite of European football in the top continental competition.
And the reward could have been even better for the home side, who led the 1991 European champions 2-0 after a strong start to the second half, with goals from Bjoertuft and Määttä in the 52nd and 62nd minutes. A defender, Ognjen Mimovic, prevented further harm for the visitors from a set-piece in the 75th minute.