Still all to play for as Dynamo host Slavia Praha at the Olimpiyskiy

Still all to play for as Dynamo host Slavia Praha at the Olimpiyskiy

Dynamo Kyiv vs Slavia Praha – Tuesday, August 14, 17:30 BST/18:30 CEST  – NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine 

Dynamo Kyiv vs Slavia Praha will take place at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Complex in Kyiv. (Photo by Genya Savilov/EuroFootball/Getty Images)

Dynamo Kyiv vs Slavia Praha will take place at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Complex in Kyiv. (Photo by Genya Savilov/EuroFootball/Getty Images)

After a 1-1 draw in Prague the Champions League qualification match between Dynamo Kyiv and Slavia Praha is heading to Ukraine’s capital.

Still unbeaten in league play Dynamo, however, had to surrender the first spot in the Ukrainian Premier League this weekend. Dynamo was given the weekend off to better prepare for the return fixture against Slavia.

As a result, Dynamo have dropped to the third spot in the league and are now sitting behind Oleksandriya and eternal rivals Shakhtar. The very same Shakhtar side that Dynamo beat on matchday 3 of the UPL.

That result, in particular, highlights that Dynamo are going to be a dangerous side that is ready to make the next step under head coach Aleksandr Khatskevich. Furthermore, the club has once again opened the door for investments with the club signing super talent Vladyslav Supriaha on the weekend.

It is, however, unlikely that Supriaha will feature against Slavia on Tuesday. The Czech side, after all, has highlighted in domestic play that they are a dangerous team.

Winning four out of four this season Slavia are first in the Fortuna Liga at the moment. Hence, although Dynamo are carrying a small advantage into the second leg, they have the away goal on their side, the game in Kyiv will be very much a 50/50 game.

Dynamo Kyiv vs Slavia Praha- Players to look out for:

Viktor Tsygankov #15 – Dynamo Kyiv

Viktor Tsygankov continues his stellar development. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has been a full first team member of Dynamo for two straight seasons. Dynamo, in fact, were convinced enough by the winger’s talent to sell Andriy Yarmolenko last summer. At home on the right flank of a three-man attacking midfield Tsygankov does not quite have Yarmolenko’s physical presence and instead shines with his technical ability and dribbling qualities.

Viktor Tsygankov is one of the brightest talents of Ukrainian football. (OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images)

Viktor Tsygankov is one of the brightest talents of Ukrainian football. (OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images)

Milan Skoda #21 – Slavia Praha

Milan Skoda is Slavia Praha’s biggest attacking threat. The 32-year-old Czech striker has scored 74 goals and 27 assists in 195 games for Slavia. A tall striker Skoda usually plays on top of a 4-2-3-1 formation and is dependent from the services he receives from the attacking midfielders. The striker has come off to a good start this season scoring three goals in his first four games in the Fortuna Liga.

Milan Skoda is Slavia's danger man. (MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

Milan Skoda is Slavia’s danger man. (MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

Dynamo Kyiv vs Slavia Praha– Match Stats

  • Both teams entering at this stage
  • Slavia were last in the group stage in 2007/08
  • Dynamo reached group stage in 2016/17

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Dynamo Kyiv vs Slavia Praha– 2-1

Dynamo Kyiv vs Slavia Praha– Lineups

Dynamo Kyiv:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Boyko – Morozyuk, Kádár, Burdar, Kedziora – Shepelev, Sydorchuk – Verbić, Buyalsky, Tsygankov – Besiedin

Head Coach: Aleksandr Khatskevich

Slavia Praha:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Kolar – Boril, Deli, Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui, Coufal – Soucek, Husbauer – Zmrhal, Sykora, Stoch – Skoda

Head Coach: Jindrich Trpisovsky

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others works for the Bundesliga and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 0
DISQUS: 0