Dinamo sought consolation after their defeat against Danish side Aalborg in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League in Romania during the Europa League play-off. Their opponents were Petrolul from Ploiești, whom the blues eventually overcame with two victories to safely secure their place in the group stage.

Dinamo won 3-1 in Ploiești, and later won the return leg in Zagreb 2-1. In the first match, Duje Čop opened the scoring in the 29th minute from the penalty spot after home captain and former celebrated Romanian international Adrian Mutu handled the ball in his own penalty area. It was precisely Mutu who initiated the equaliser at the very end of the first half. With a skilful assist through Dinamo's defence, he sent the ball into the penalty area, where Toto Tamuz received it on the left side, moved towards the centre looking for a shooting position, and managed to find a corridor through which he sent the ball into the bottom corner. In the 80th minute, Ivo Pinto delivered a cross from the right, and at the far post Čop headed home for a new lead. In the final seconds of stoppage time, home defender Gerardo was sent off for a foul on Ivo Pinto. From that free kick, in the 6th minute of stoppage time, Paulo Machado scored Dinamo's third goal. He shot from 18 metres at an angle from the right side, using a clever inside curl with his right foot around the wall, with the ball flying past the near post into the net.