Dinamo Zagreb Suffers First Loss Ahead of Europa League Clash

Hapoel Be'er Sheva will kick off its Europa League league stage campaign on Wednesday, hosting Dinamo Zagreb in Bucharest. On Saturday evening, its first European opponent suffered its first defeat of the season in Croatia, losing 4:2 away to Osijek, which climbed past them to the top of the table.

Dion Drena Beljo, the league's top scorer with seven goals in the first five matchdays, was dropped from Dinamo's squad just minutes before kickoff due to nausea. The champion's defense had no answer for Mexican forward Armando León, who scored a brace in the first half (12th and 35th minutes) and assisted the third goal to Luka Vrbancic (60th). Miha Zajc pulled one goal back in the 61st minute, and Šime Prelevjak added a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time. However, Osijek exploited Dinamo pushing all players forward and sealed the match in the 96th minute when Domagoj Bukvić scored from a distance into an empty net. The hosts ended a five-match losing streak against Dinamo, featuring former Beitar Jerusalem defender Marcel Heister in their starting lineup.

Croatian media heavily criticized Dinamo's defense, writing: "Mistake followed mistake and Dinamo was humiliated in the east. This four-goal defeat will not be forgotten."