With a draw always likely to be enough for both sides’ respective aims, neither displayed much attacking urgency in a turgid first half that desperately lacked goalmouth action.
The hosts looked the more accomplished side despite this being just their second competitive game since mid-December, but their only early sighting of goal came when Darío Osorio badly mis-hit a volley that never threatened.
Midtjylland's best chance of the half came on the stroke of half-time when the ball fell kindly to Cho Gue-sung after Dinamo failed to clear a corner, but he blazed over from a promising position, enraging his manager in the process.
The visitors were similarly toothless, with home goalkeeper Elias Ólafsson’s most strenuous work being to keep out Luka Stojković’s ambitious long-range free-kick.
The first five minutes of the second period eclipsed the first in terms of action, with openings at both ends. First, Osorio was denied from close range by Ivan Nevistić after Dinamo failed to clear their lines, before half-time substitute Arbër Hoxha saw a deflected effort brilliantly tipped over by Ólafsson.
The Danish Wolves capitalised on that reprieve, breaking the deadlock through the lively Aral Şimşir, whose delicate chip over the goalkeeper was shown to have just crossed the line despite the best efforts of retreating defender Bruno Goda.
Scores elsewhere meant Dinamo were hanging on to their place in the top 24, and when Sergi Domínguez saw a header cleared off the line, anxiety in the away camp grew further.
The visitors were left hanging on by their fingertips when Valdemar Byskov slotted through Victor Bak to double Midtjylland’s lead 16 minutes from time. Dion Drena Beljo struck the post, and Miha Zajc was denied by the face of Ólafsson as the Croats desperately tried to claw their way back into the contest, but even defeat couldn’t stop them from reaching the knockout stages.
Still, their four-match winning run across all competitions came to an end at the hands of a Midtjylland side who secured a top-three finish with six wins from eight matches.