Europa League Showdown: Dinamo Zagreb Host FCSB in Crucial Qualification Battle
Dinamo Zagreb will host FCSB at Stadion Maksimir in a pivotal UEFA Europa League Matchday 7 fixture for the 2025/26 season. Both teams are vying for a place in the knockout stages under the revamped league phase format, with their current standings making this a crucial encounter for their European ambitions.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This match marks Matchday 7 of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League league phase. The Europa League underwent a format change in 2024, introducing a single league phase where 36 clubs play eight matches. The top eight teams directly qualify for the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th proceed to the knockout round play-offs. As of Matchday 7, Dinamo Zagreb are currently ranked 25th with 7 points, and FCSB are 27th with 6 points. This places both teams outside the direct qualification spots for the Round of 16 and firmly in contention for a place in the knockout play-offs. The outcome of this game will be crucial for their European aspirations, with a win significantly boosting their chances of progressing, while a loss could put their continuation in the competition at risk.
Recent Form
Dinamo Zagreb have shown strong domestic form in the 2025/26 Croatian First Football League (Prva HNL), currently sitting in 1st place with a record of 12 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses. Their most recent league fixture on December 20, 2025, resulted in a 2-0 home victory against Lokomotiva Zagreb. However, their latest outing was a 1-2 friendly loss to TSV Hartberg on January 15, 2026. In the Europa League, Dinamo's recent form has been mixed, including a 0-4 loss to Lille on November 27, 2025, and a 1-3 defeat to Real Betis on December 11, 2025. Their last five official matches across all competitions show a form of W, L, D, W, L.
FCSB's form in the Romanian Liga I for the 2025/26 season is considered average, with 8 wins, 7 draws, and 7 losses, placing them 9th in the league. However, they recently enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run in their domestic competition. Their most recent fixture on January 16, 2026, was a 0-1 loss to FC Argeș Pitești. In the Europa League, FCSB recorded a notable 4-3 victory against Feyenoord on December 11, 2025. Their performance over the last five official matches stands at L, W, W, W, D.
Key Players & Injury News
Dinamo Zagreb are contending with several key player injuries. Midfielder Ismaël Bennacer is out due to a hamstring strain. Defender Matteo Vinlöf is recovering from a wrist injury, expected back in early February 2026, and is also awaiting MRI results for ankle tendon pain sustained in training. Raúl Torrente is sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury, and Moris Valinčić is also expected to return in early February from a knock. Furthermore, Sandro Kulenovic will miss the match due to a yellow card suspension. The team's offensive strength will rely on players like Dion Drena Beljo and Arber Hoxha.
For FCSB, Mihai Popescu is expected to be out until May 1, 2026, due to a cruciate ligament injury. Ionuț Cercel is also unavailable with a knee injury. While Daniel Graovac was serving a yellow card suspension, he was expected to return by January 20, making him available for this match. Key players for FCSB include top scorer Florin Tănase, who has 10 league goals in the 2025/26 season, and influential midfielder Darius Olaru, who contributed 8 goals in the previous season.