In a disappointing outing, Dinamo Zagreb faced a 1-3 defeat to Genk in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off match at Maksimir stadium. With 10,500 spectators in attendance, Dinamo had aimed to secure a strong performance at home, but Genk's efficient gameplay quickly shattered those hopes. The Belgian team took full advantage of Dinamo's defensive errors, scoring two goals in the first half while Dinamo managed to pull one back just before halftime, keeping their hopes alive for at least a comeback.

The second half saw Dinamo pushing for an equalizer, but they struggled with accuracy in their finishing and failed to present a solid defensive front. Genk capitalized on one of their opportunities to extend their lead, ultimately ending the match at 1-3. This result not only stunned the home crowd but also left Dinamo in a precarious position, needing a significant turnaround in the second leg in Belgium to advance in the tournament.

Despite the heavy defeat, there remains a glimmer of hope for Dinamo ahead of the return match, as they will aim to regroup and put forth a stronger performance to attempt a comeback against Genk. The loss is a wake-up call for the Croatian champions, highlighting flaws in their defensive strategy that they must address if they wish to succeed in the tournament and maintain their European aspirations.