Introduction – Dinamo Zagreb vs. Betis: moment, meaning, and context of the match
The Dinamo Zagreb vs. Betis match, played this Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the Stadion Maksimir, offered a spectacle of attacking football, strategy, and efficiency that defined Real Betis’ superiority in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League. The Spanish team won 3-1, practically guaranteeing their place among the qualifiers from the group stage with a convincing performance and important goals in the first half.
The match was very important for the standings, as Betis, with 11 points accumulated, is close to securing early qualification for the Round of 16, reinforcing the club’s good performance in this edition of the Europa League. Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb, a traditional Croatian team with a respected European history, saw its aspirations diminished after conceding three goals in quick succession before halftime.
For Betis, the match represented not only a victory in the group, but also confirmation of a collective evolution under Manuel Pellegrini’s leadership, highlighting their offensive power and efficient tactical awareness. Dynamo, on the other hand, despite playing in front of their home crowd and showing competitive moments, suffered a late consolation goal that had little impact on the outcome of the match.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the game, including pre-game context, tactics, detailed statistics, and implications for the future of the tournament, as well as answering the main questions about the Dinamo Zagreb vs. Betis match.
Pre-match context – The situation of Dinamo Zagreb and Betis before the match.
Dinamo Zagreb: European tradition and the mission to score points.
Dinamo Zagreb entered the field motivated to gain points at home and keep alive their dream of qualifying for the final stages of the Europa League. The club, accustomed to major international clashes and with considerable dominance in games at the Stadion Maksimir, knew the emotional and tactical advantage of playing in front of their fans.
Despite this, the team had been coming off mixed results in the competition and needed a solid performance to fight for a spot. Historically, Dynamo has performed well at home and has successfully progressed through European group stages, but consistency in this edition of the Europa League was an unknown quantity until facing Betis.
Betis: comfortable favorites with a chance of early qualification.
Real Betis, on the other hand, arrived with a much more favorable scenario. With consistent performance throughout the group stage, the Spanish club had the chance to secure a place in the next phase without depending on other results. Their campaign had been built on a solid foundation of game control, efficient possession, and the creation of clear chances, with offensive players like Rodrigo Riquelme and Antony standing out, responsible for a large part of the team’s offensive production.
The visiting team’s strategy involved a lot of mobility, quick transitions, and midfield involvement to create numerical superiority in the final third—a tactic that proved decisive in the outcome of the match.
Lineups & Strategies – Tactical Approaches of Dinamo Zagreb vs. Betis
Dinamo Zagreb’s tactics
Dynamo lined up a formation focused on balance between defense and offensive transition, trying to maintain consistency in midfield and taking advantage of collective strength to pressure the visitors’ build-up play. The Croatian team featured players like Filipovic in goal, Mikic and Goda in defense, and Beljo and Hoxha in attack, looking for infiltrations and speed in quick transitions.
The idea was to control the midfield, conduct the game with possession-based play, and create chances without leaving too much space, but the strategy proved vulnerable to Betis’s fast transitions and high pressing in the early stages of the game.
Real Betis strategy
Betis played with a clearly offensive approach, prioritizing ball possession with the intention of verticality and intense presence in the opponent’s half. With quick structures and variations in pace between the midfielders and wingers, the team created space to shoot from different areas of the field.
Players like Rodrigo Riquelme and Antony were key not only in finishing but also in creating chances, with intelligent movement and direct involvement in the goals that decided the match in the first half.
First Half – Offensive pressure and three goals in seven minutes.
The first half was marked by Betis’ efficiency and speed in converting chances into goals. Between the 31st and 38th minutes, the Spanish team scored three times in just seven minutes, practically deciding the match before halftime.
- 31′ – Own goal by Sergi Domínguez (Dinamo Zagreb) after a cross that deflected and opened the scoring.
- 34′ – Rodrigo Riquelme (Betis) took advantage of an assist and scored with precision.
- 38′ – Antony (Betis) capitalized on a defensive error to make it 3-0.
This initial period of intense attacking play demonstrated Betis’ ability to convert dominance into concrete goals, reflecting a superior performance compared to their rival. The atmosphere at the Stadion Maksimir changed rapidly, with Betis taking control of the game and Dynamo trying to regroup after quickly conceding three goals in quick succession.
Second Half – Managing the lead and a late goal for Dinamo Zagreb
In the second half, Betis adopted a more calculated approach, maintaining their advantage with defensive organization and controlling possession when necessary. The team managed the game without completely abandoning attacking play, always looking to quickly recover the ball when Dynamo tried to advance.
Dinamo Zagreb’s consolation goal came only in the 89th minute, scored by Niko Galesic from a set piece after a corner kick — a late goal that added a bit more shine to the final score, but did not alter Betis’s consolidated superiority.
The remainder of the match showed a more balanced game, with few clear chances and a well-managed approach from the visitors, who knew how to protect the advantage they had built so well in the first half.
Full stats – Dinamo Zagreb vs Betis
| Statistic | Dinamo Zagreb | Real Betis |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 3 |
| Ball possession (%) | 42% | 58% |
| Total shots | 8 | 15 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 5 |
| Successful passes (%) | 86% | 91.2% |
| Passes completed | 380 | 573 |
| Corner kicks | 5 | 4 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 3 |
| Goals in the first 30 minutes | 0 | 0 |
| Goals 31–45 | 0 | 3 |
| Goals after 85 minutes | 1 | 0 |
| Source: UEFA / ESPN |
The statistics reinforce Betis’ territorial control, their efficiency in finishing, and their passing accuracy, especially in the first half, when they built the advantage that defined the game.
Impact of Dinamo Zagreb x Betis in the Europa League 2025/26
Betis: virtual early vacancy and increased confidence.
With 11 points after the victory, Betis is in a comfortable position in the group and very close to direct qualification for the Europa League round of 16 — an important objective for any club seeking continental success without depending on intermediate stages. The European performance reinforces the potential of the Spanish team and gives them even more confidence to face the decisive phases.
Dinamo Zagreb: a complicated task and a need for recovery.
For Dinamo Zagreb, the result represents a greater challenge in the final stretch of the group stage. The defeat increases the need to score points in the next matches if they still want to maintain chances of qualifying. Despite the late consolation goal, the Croatian team needs to adjust its offensive effectiveness and defensive solidity to return to fighting for positive results.
Additional Sections – Intensity & Context
Betis’ recent evolution in Europe.
Betis is not alone in this game — its European run has been consistent. In recent matches, the club has achieved important results away from home and closed defensive gaps that previously appeared during periods of pressure. This more mature and tactically organized approach has been a key factor in achieving high positions in the group.
Dinamo Zagreb and the challenge of playing away from home.
Although Dinamo has a solid home record and is known for the passionate support of the Croatian fans at Stadion Maksimir, the team struggled to control the game against an opponent with more recent international experience. This highlighted the need to improve their build-up play and defensive transitions for high-level European matches.
Conclusion – Dinamo Zagreb vs. Betis: a commanding victory and a path to the final stages.
The match between Dinamo Zagreb and Betis was marked by a display of Spanish superiority that translated into a convincing 3-1 away win. The visiting team showed a clear tactical plan from the start: pressure, intelligent attacking movement, and effectiveness in the final third of the pitch.
The three goals in just seven minutes in the first half were no coincidence: they reflect collective work, game reading, and the ability to capitalize on opponent’s mistakes. Betis transformed possession dominance into concrete results, something that is not always trivial in international competitions.
On the other hand, Dinamo Zagreb, despite fighting hard and managing a late consolation goal, showed that they still face challenges in matching the pace of more technically solid teams. The team still has potential, but will need adjustments if they want to maintain their aspirations in the Europa League.
This victory positions Betis as one of the favorites to advance strongly in the competition and signals that, in tactical terms, the Spanish club could be a difficult opponent in the knockout stages. For Dynamo, the lesson is clear: competing at a European level demands precision and execution in decisive moments—something Betis demonstrated throughout the 90 minutes.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions about Dinamo Zagreb vs Betis
1. What was the result of Dinamo Zagreb vs Betis in the 2025/26 Europa League?
Real Betis won 3-1 away from home.
2. Who scored the goals for Betis?
Own goals by Sergi Domínguez (31′), Rodrigo Riquelme (34′) and Antony (38′).
3. Who scored for Dinamo Zagreb?
Niko Galesic, in the 89th minute — a consolation goal.
4. Where was the game played?
At the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb, Croatia.
5. What was the ball possession percentage?
Betis had around 58%, while Dynamo had 42%.
6. Is Betis close to qualifying?
Yes — with 11 points in the group, the club is close to the round of 16.
7. How was Betis’ defensive performance?
Solid, limiting Dynamo’s chances in the second half after taking the lead.
8. Does Dynamo have a chance of qualifying after this defeat?
The chances are reduced, requiring positive results in the next games.
9. What was the highlight of the match?
The collective performance of Betis, especially Antony and Riquelme.
10. Does this victory make Betis the favorite in the group?
Yes — consistency in results puts Betis in a privileged position.
