Dynamo Kiev take on Salzburg in Champions League play-off
Within two games of making the group stage, Dynamo Kiev and Red Bull Salzburg convene for the first leg of their crucial Champions League playoff on Wednesday evening.
Dynamo have seen off Partizan Belgrade and Rangers to reach the final hurdle, while Salzburg edged past Twente to progress from the third qualifying round.
After playing out a 1-1 first-leg draw in Poland, Dynamo capitalised on their hosts going down to 10 men in Glasgow last week, as they booked a precious place in the playoffs.
When Rangers winger, Jefte, was sent off in the second half, the Ukrainian side went on to score twice in two minutes and secure a 3-1 aggregate success, with Oleksandr Pikhalyonok and Nazar Voloshyn netting the decisive goals.
Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s side, which finished just two points adrift of champions Shakhtar Donetsk in last term’s title race, had entered Champions League qualifying in the second round with a thumping win over Partizan Belgrade.
Added to two victories from two in the league, that means they are still undefeated this season, and they now aim to prolong a 12-match unbeaten streak on home turf; however, ‘home’ on this occasion is the Polish city of Lublin, where they will play due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Dynamo’s most recent attempt at qualifying for Europe’s top club competition ended in a 5-0 playoff defeat to Benfica two years ago, and following failure to reach the Europa Conference League last season, they are doubly determined to get back to the big time.
While their opponents were 3-1 winners over Karpaty Lviv last weekend, Salzburg saw off LASK in the Austrian Bundesliga, maintaining a flawless start to the new league season.
New boss, Pep Lijnders, has enjoyed an excellent start to life away from Liverpool, having returned to front-line management following a brief spell in charge of NEC Nijmegen several seasons ago.
His squad will feel they have something to prove in 2024-25, as after a decade of dominance they finally failed to win their domestic title last term, losing out to Sturm Graz on the final matchday.
Lijnders was then hired to replace Gerhard Struber, and after securing progress in the Austrian Cup and winning two league matches, Die Roten Bullen narrowly negotiated their opening Champions League qualifying tie.
After earning a 2-1 victory in the first leg at home, they played out a dramatic 3-3 draw away to Twente last week, when Maurits Kjaergaard, Dorgeles Nene and Moussa Yeo all found the net – despite conceding two late goals, they still scraped through.
Champions League regulars during the past decade, Salzburg exited at the group stage last year finishing fourth behind Real Sociedad, Benfica and Inter Milan and they are now intent on making another appearance as UEFA unveil a new-look format.
Dynamo are set to name a very similar XI to that which started against Rangers in last week’s second leg, although Oleksandr Pikhalyonok is a strong contender to break into the lineup.
With three goals, midfielder Maurits Kjaergaard is Die Roten Bullen’s leading scorer in qualifying so far, and he should start behind an attack led by either in-form Moussa Yeo or towering Serb striker Petar Ratkov.
—Sports Mole
