Thun host Dinamo Zagreb in Champions League qualifying first leg

Thun and Dinamo Zagreb meet in Switzerland on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying-round tie, a fixture that pairs two domestic champions with very different European profiles.

Sports Mole’s preview, published on July 20, frames Dinamo as the more seasoned side at this level after another Croatian title-winning campaign and a recent Europa League knockout playoff appearance. Thun, meanwhile, enter the tie after a rapid domestic rise that has taken them from a return to the Swiss top flight to a reported Swiss Super League title.

The first leg gives Thun a chance to use home advantage before the return match in Croatia, while Dinamo will look to bring their qualifying experience and stronger recent form into a controlled away performance.

Match snapshot

Why this tie matters

For readers tracking the early Champions League qualifying rounds, this matchup is a useful test of how champions from smaller and mid-sized European leagues are positioned before the route to the league phase becomes clearer.

According to Sports Mole, Thun earned promotion by winning the Swiss Challenge League in 2024-25, then followed that by winning the Swiss Super League in 2025-26. The source says Gian-Luca Privitelli’s side finished five points clear of St Gallen after 38 matches.

That final margin came after a wobble. The same preview reports that Thun had built a 14-point lead with five games remaining before taking only one point from their final five league matches. Their pre-season form has also been uneven, with one win from four friendlies and a 2-1 defeat to Mannheim in their latest warm-up.

Dinamo’s route into the tie looks steadier. The Zagreb club reclaimed the Croatian title in 2025-26, reportedly finishing 18 points ahead of Hajduk Split after collecting 86 points from 36 league matches. Sports Mole also credits Dinamo with 93 goals scored and 28 conceded in that domestic campaign.

Thun face squad changes after title success

Thun’s challenge is not only the standard of the opposition. The Swiss champions are also dealing with turnover after their title season.

Sports Mole reports that Franz-Ethan Meichtry has left for Genoa, Elmin Rastoder for Panathinaikos and Mathias Tomas for Puebla. The preview adds that three midfield arrivals have joined the squad, though they may be introduced gradually rather than pushed straight into a high-pressure European tie.

The source lists Genis Montello as unavailable through injury. Marco Burki is described as available for the Champions League fixture because his domestic ban from last season does not carry over into this competition.

That defensive availability could matter against a Dinamo side expected to be more comfortable managing the rhythm of a two-legged European tie. Thun’s likely priority at home is to stay compact, avoid giving Dinamo clean transition chances and keep the contest alive for the second leg.

Dinamo bring form and European experience

Dinamo’s summer has also involved squad movement. Sports Mole lists Sandro Kulenovic, Marko Soldo and Gonzalo Villar among the departures, with four players arriving on free transfers.

The main attacking reference point in the source preview is Dion Drena Beljo, who is reported to have scored 31 league goals last season. He is expected to lead the line in Mario Kovacevic’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

Dinamo also arrive with stronger recent results. The preview says they are unbeaten across four pre-season friendlies, winning three, and have not lost in their last 22 matches. That run gives them momentum before a fixture where avoiding first-leg damage can be almost as valuable as chasing a big away win.

Last season’s European campaign also adds context. Sports Mole notes that Dinamo reached the Europa League knockout phase playoffs before losing 6-4 on aggregate to Genk. That does not guarantee superiority here, but it does show recent experience against continental opposition across two legs.

Possible lineups

Sports Mole projects Thun to start with Steffen in goal; Heule, Burki, Bamert and Fehr in defence; Reichmuth, Roth and Kait in midfield; and Labeau, Dursun and Maier in attack.

The projected Dinamo Zagreb XI is Filipovic; Valincic, Dominguez, Galesic and Goda; Misic and Zajc; Bakrar, Vidovic and Orsic; with Beljo as the central striker.

These should be treated as possible lineups only. Official team sheets, UEFA squad registration details and late fitness updates can change the picture close to kickoff.

What remains unclear

The supplied material is based on one secondary preview source, so several items still need confirmation before match time: final starting XIs, any late injuries, the precise tactical shape each coach uses and whether recent signings are registered and ready to play.

Sports Mole’s preview leans toward Dinamo taking a narrow first-leg advantage, citing their European background, squad quality and recent unbeaten run. FootballGames10 is not adding an independent score prediction or betting recommendation here.

Readers following the fixture should check official UEFA and club channels before kickoff for confirmed squads, kickoff time details and any late selection changes.

Source: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/thun/preview/thun-vs-dinamo-zagreb-prediction-team-news-lineups_601500.html