Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv enter the third round of Champions League qualifying against Austrian club Sturm Graz on Wednesday. The Ukrainians go into the tie following a 2-1 aggregate win against Fenerbahçe in the second qualifying round.
Sturm Graz recently started their Austrian Bundesliga campaign. The Austrians are in good form with four points from six on offer in the division.
Жеребкування раунду плей-офф ЛЧ: визначилися можливі суперники «Динамо»Перед матчами 3-го кваліфікаційного раунду Ліги чемпіонів УЄФА провів у швейцарському Ньоні жеребкування наступної стадії – раунду плей-офф турніру, який буде завершальним перед груповим етапом. pic.twitter.com/FbI6gHz4er— FC Dynamo Kyiv (@DynamoKyiv) August 2, 2022
Жеребкування раунду плей-офф ЛЧ: визначилися можливі суперники «Динамо»Перед матчами 3-го кваліфікаційного раунду Ліги чемпіонів УЄФА провів у швейцарському Ньоні жеребкування наступної стадії – раунду плей-офф турніру, який буде завершальним перед груповим етапом. pic.twitter.com/FbI6gHz4er
Over the weekend, Sturm Graz shocked Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 in the Bundesliga. Coach Christian Ilzer will hope the club can spring another shock, only this time, on Dynamo Kyiv.
Dynamo Kyiv manager Mircea Lucescu will hope the side, which is currently made up mostly of Ukrainian players, can get the upper hand in the two-legged series versus Sturm Graz.
Their form hasn’t been great in all competitions, but Dynamo secured a key win in the second qualifying round against Fenerbahçe. Lucescu used a 4-2-3-1 formation against the Turkish team in the second leg of their tie.
Vitaliy Buyalskyi and Oleksandr Karavaev scored the goals for Dynamo Kyiv to send them through to face off with Sturm Graz. The winner of this tie will move onto the playoff round as part of the unseeded pot for the draw.
Ilzer will likely play a 4-4-2 diamond formation against Dynamo Kyiv. The coach will hope striker Rasmus Hojlund can stay in good form after scoring twice against Red Bull Salzburg at the weekend.
Forward Jacob Jantscher is set to miss the game with a torn muscle. Otar Kiteishvili is a doubt due to a tendon problem. In addition to those injuries, centre-back Niklas Geyhofer is expected to miss out with a problem of his own.
Sturm Graz will fancy their chances against Dynamo Kyiv due to the issues the Ukrainians have experienced over the last year. However, Dynamo Kyiv came through a difficult second round tie with Fenerbahçe and will believe they can win the fixture.
Ibrahim Kargbo has a leg injury that will keep him out of the match. Volodmyr Kostevych underwent surgery and is still rehabbing. Other than those two injured players Lucescu has a fully fit team.
Although Dynamo Kyiv have struggled in all competitions, winning just once, it was an important victory as it sent them into the third qualifying round. Now, Kyiv have the chance to pick up another victory and to get the upper hand in the third qualifying round against Sturm Graz.
Kyiv should post a 2-0 win with this game giving them hope of progression to the playoff round.