Arber Hoxha scored an early goal for GNK Dinamo Zagreb in their UEFA Champions League play-off second leg against Viking. Despite taking a ninth-minute lead, the Croatian champions ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat in Stavanger, with the Norwegian side winning 5-3 on aggregate to progress to the group stage.
The match took place on Tuesday, 26 August 2026. Luka Stojković delivered a cross from the right, a Norwegian defender deflected the ball, and Hoxha arrived in front of the goalkeeper to head home. "It was a good start, but we failed to maintain the advantage," said the Dinamo manager after the match.
Despite the positive start, Dinamo could not control the game. Viking equalised before half-time and added two more goals in the second half for a 3-1 victory. This marks the second consecutive season Dinamo has been eliminated in the final qualifying round for the Champions League. The club now turns its attention to the UEFA Europa League, where they will compete in the group stage.
Dinamo's squad is a blend of experienced players and young talent. According to our data on the squad page, the average age of the starting eleven is 24.7 years. Over the last three transfer windows, the club has maintained a net positive transfer balance, selling players for a combined total exceeding €70 million. The team's current top scorer in the domestic league is Martin Baturina with five goals.
Arber Hoxha, who joined Dinamo last summer, scored his first European goal for the club. The Albanian striker is under contract until the summer of 2029. His goal against Viking demonstrated his poacher's instinct inside the box and his ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Compared to other forwards in the roster, Hoxha offers a different profile. While Bruno Petković often drops deeper to link play and Mahir Emreli works to create space, Hoxha is a typical 'goal-hunter' within the penalty area. This season's Croatian league campaign has already shown Dinamo possesses multiple attacking options, with five different scorers in the first five rounds.
| Player | Goals in HNL 2026/27 | Total Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Baturina | 5 | 28 |
| Bruno Petković | 3 | 25 |
| Mahir Emreli | 2 | 22 |
| Arber Hoxha | 1 | 15 |
The table shows the distribution of goals among Dinamo's forwards in the current domestic league season.
Dinamo will now continue their campaign in the Europa League, where they will be drawn into one of the eight groups. The first match of the Europa League group stage is scheduled for 17 September 2026. The club must also maintain form in the domestic championship, where they currently sit in second place, one point behind leaders Hajduk Split.
A busy schedule awaits the team. The full calendar of upcoming fixtures, including the derby against Hajduk in round 11, can be found on our fixtures page. Dinamo has a chance to win their 25th Croatian league title, and success in the Europa League could bring significant financial revenue and coefficient points. The club's next match is a home fixture against Istra 1961 in the 7th round of the HNL on 13 September.
