Dinamo, which already played the Champions League last year, is considered the favourite, but Maribor are hoping to repeat the feat from 1999 when they eliminated Lyon in the decisive qualifier for what became the only season among Europe's top teams for a Slovenian club to date.

"Dinamo has more quality and we will have to show our best," Maribor's coach Darko Milanič announced before the match, saying that all of Maribor's players bar defender Mitja Viler were fit for the game.

More than a dozen buses packed with Slovenian supporters have already been secured for the away leg of the encounter with Zagreb, which already is the biggest international success of the Maribor club since 1999.

The second game, to be played in Maribor next Tuesday, is almost sold out already.