Atlético vs Dinamo: Resumen

In a thrilling UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round fixture, Dinamo City secured a crucial 2-1 away victory against Atlètic Club d'Escaldes at the Estadi de la FAF on July 24, 2025. The Andorran side initially took the lead just before halftime, raising hopes among the home supporters who had created an electric atmosphere in the compact stadium. However, the Albanian visitors demonstrated remarkable resilience in the second half, with Baton Zabergja equalizing in the 65th minute before a late winner from substitute E. Qardaku in the 86th minute silenced the home crowd.

The significance of this result cannot be overstated for Dinamo City, who entered the match as underdogs considering their recent poor form with four losses in five matches. This away win gives them a valuable advantage heading into the second leg in Albania. For Atlètic Club d'Escaldes, who had impressed by eliminating F91 Dudelange in the previous round with a 5-2 aggregate score, this defeat represents a considerable setback to their European ambitions.

Despite controlling passages of play and taking the lead, the Andorran side couldn't maintain their advantage against an increasingly assertive Dinamo City team. The Albanian side's tactical adjustments in the second half paid dividends as they progressively dominated possession (55%) and created more meaningful chances. This result places Dinamo City in a commanding position to progress to the next round, while Atlètic Club d'Escaldes will need to produce a remarkable performance in the return leg to overturn the deficit.

"We started well and deserved our lead, but unfortunately couldn't maintain the same intensity throughout the ninety minutes," admitted Dani Luque, Atlètic Club d'Escaldes coach. "Dinamo City showed their quality in the second half. We're disappointed with the result but the tie isn't over – we'll go to Albania believing we can turn this around."

"I'm extremely proud of how my players responded after going behind," stated Ilir Daja, Dinamo City's coach. "We showed character and stuck to our game plan. The players executed our tactical adjustments perfectly in the second half. This is only half-time in the tie, though, and we expect Escaldes to come at us strongly in the return leg."

"We knew we needed to be patient," said Baton Zabergja, Dinamo City's equalizer scorer. "After scoring, we felt the momentum shift our way. Getting this away win is massive for us, but we can't celebrate too much yet."

"It's a tough result to take," reflected David Andrade of Atlètic Club d'Escaldes. "We had good moments in the match but couldn't capitalize on them enough. We've overcome challenges before and we'll give everything in the second leg."

"The technical quality of both teams was evident," observed European football analyst Marco Rossi. "Dinamo City's experience at this level ultimately told, but Escaldes showed enough to suggest they can still pose problems in the return fixture."

The statistical breakdown of the Atlètic Club d'Escaldes vs Dinamo City encounter reveals how the Albanian side gradually took control of the match. Possession ended decisively in Dinamo City's favor at 55% compared to Escaldes' 45%, reflecting their growing dominance as the match progressed.

In terms of attacking threat, Dinamo City recorded 8 shots with 4 finding the target, while the hosts managed 5 attempts with just 2 on target – highlighting their struggles to create clear opportunities despite taking the lead. The visitors also earned more corner kicks (5-3), indicating their territorial advantage, particularly in the second half.

The physical nature of the contest was evident in the foul count, with Dinamo City committing 17 infractions to Escaldes' 11. This aggressive approach from the Albanian side resulted in three yellow cards, while the Andorran team maintained discipline with no bookings.

Individually, Baton Zabergja was the standout performer for Dinamo City, not only scoring the equalizer but completing 87% of his passes and winning 6 aerial duels. For the hosts, goalkeeper Álvaro made several important saves to prevent a heavier defeat, while David Andrade worked tirelessly in midfield, covering 11.2 kilometers – the highest distance of any player on the pitch.

3': The match began with a cautious approach from both sides, with Atlètic Club d'Escaldes slightly more proactive in the opening exchanges. Nayry Vieira tested Dinamo's defense with an early cross that required urgent clearance.

27': First significant chance fell to Dinamo City when Lorran broke through on the right wing but his powerful shot was expertly saved by Álvaro.

43': GOAL! Atlètic Club d'Escaldes 1-0 Dinamo City – Against the run of play, the hosts took the lead just before halftime. A well-worked move down the left culminated in a clinical finish that sent the home crowd into raptures.

58': Tactical Change – Dinamo City coach Ilir Daja made a pivotal adjustment, shifting to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation and introducing fresh legs that would ultimately change the course of the match.

65': GOAL! Atlètic Club d'Escaldes 1-1 Dinamo City – Baton Zabergja equalized for the visitors, heading home from Tiago Nani's precise cross following sustained pressure from the Albanian side.

75': Crucial moment as Álvaro produced a spectacular double save to deny Karamba Gassama and then Lorenco Vila as Dinamo City pushed for a winner.

86': GOAL! Atlètic Club d'Escaldes 1-2 Dinamo City – Heartbreak for the hosts as substitute E. Qardaku scored what proved to be the winner, finishing coolly after a defensive error by Escaldes.

90+4': Final chance for the hosts as Alvaro Roncal's header from a corner flashed agonizingly wide of the post, confirming Dinamo City's valuable away victory.

The Atlètic Club d'Escaldes versus Dinamo City encounter marks the first-ever competitive meeting between these two clubs from Andorra and Albania respectively. With no historical precedent to draw upon, this UEFA Europa Conference League confrontation represents uncharted territory for both sides.

Though lacking direct head-to-head history, both clubs entered this fixture with contrasting recent forms. Atlètic Club d'Escaldes had been in impressive form, winning four of their previous five matches, including their successful navigation past F91 Dudelange in the First Qualifying Round. Meanwhile, Dinamo City arrived in Andorra struggling for consistency, having lost four of their previous five matches.

On the pitch, several key individual battles shaped the outcome. The duel between Escaldes' experienced defender Domingo Berlanga and Dinamo's forward Lorran was particularly intriguing, with the Brazilian attacker gradually gaining the upper hand as the match progressed. In midfield, Rodrigo Piloto initially controlled proceedings for the hosts before Dinamo's Karamba Gassama imposed himself more effectively in the second half.

The tactical confrontation between coaches Dani Luque and Ilir Daja proved decisive, with Daja's second-half adjustments successfully countering Escaldes' initially effective game plan. This coaching duel will continue in the return leg, where Luque must devise a strategy to overcome the deficit against opponents who now have the luxury of defending a lead.

With this first chapter of their head-to-head history favoring the Albanian side, Atlètic Club d'Escaldes will need to create a more positive entry in this nascent rivalry when they travel to Albania for the crucial second leg.

The UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying rounds operate on a knockout basis rather than a league format, meaning there is no traditional standings table. However, this result places both teams in distinct positions within the competition landscape.

Following this 2-1 first-leg defeat, Atlètic Club d'Escaldes now face an uphill battle to advance from the Second Qualifying Round. Currently sitting 13th in the Andorran Primera Divisió, Escaldes' European journey represents their most significant achievement this season. Their previous elimination of F91 Dudelange demonstrates their potential, but they now need a win by at least two goals in Albania to progress.

Dinamo City, positioned 39th in the Albanian Kategoria Superiore, have significantly boosted their chances of reaching the Third Qualifying Round with this away victory. Despite their domestic struggles, finishing third last season and currently underperforming in their league, European progression would represent a tremendous achievement for the club.

The winner of this tie will face either Partizani Tirana or Botev Plovdiv in the next round, with both those potential opponents representing significant challenges. For Escaldes, becoming the first Andorran team to reach the Third Qualifying Round would be historic, while Dinamo City are aiming to match their best-ever European run from 2018.

While both teams remain focused on this competition, their contrasting domestic positions (Escaldes challenging near the top of their league versus Dinamo's mid-table struggles) reflect the different priorities and resources available to clubs from these smaller European footballing nations.