Dynamo Kyiv eliminated Fenerbahce from the Champions League second qualifying round. Now, the two clubs are back together, but this time in the Europa League group stage.
Fenerbahce will host Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday night to kick off Group B. When these teams met in the Champions League qualifying rounds, both legs ending in draws and under 2.5 goals. Dynamo Kyiv needed extra-time to claim progression.
Günün antrenmanı ✅🔜 #FBvDK pic.twitter.com/JIcMNxFPW2— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) September 6, 2022
Günün antrenmanı ✅🔜 #FBvDK pic.twitter.com/JIcMNxFPW2
The Turkish giants never led the teams’ Champions League second qualifying round tie. Fenerbahce coach Jorge Jesus will hope this time things are different.
Fenerbahce’s hopes of defeating Dynamo Kyiv are different this time around. The Yellow Canaries signed a number of players to improve the side during the summer transfer window.
Diego Rossi arrived from Los Angeles, Josh King came from Watford, and more recently, Michy Batshuayi signed from Chelsea on transfer deadline day in England.
Dynamo Kyiv have had a slow start to the Ukraine Premier League season. It is understandable due to the war occurring in Ukraine. The club is currently playing all “home matches” in Poland.
The Blue and White are winless in the Premier League with zero points from six on offer. Dynamo Kyiv defeated Fenerbahce in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, but lost in the playoff round to Benfica.
Dynamo Kyiv won just one of their six matches in the Champions League qualifying rounds in regular time. The team is currently made up of Ukrainian players as the club’s foreign stars left due to the war.
Just one player is on the Fenerbahce injury list going into the match. Defender Nazim Sangare has an ACL injury that will keep him out until the end of the year. Enner Valencia will be able to play despite being banned in Turkey due to a red card suspension.
Manager Mircea Lucescu will set Dynamo out in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Lucescu will hope the two-man pivot will protect the back four from Fenerbahce’s attack.
Jesus has favoured a 3-4-3 formation with an emphasis on attacking football. It has led to Valencia scoring six goals in the Turkish Super Lig. Fener are coming off of a 2-0 win against Kayserispor in the league.
The teams’ two previous meetings this season ended as at the end of regulation. Thursday’s Europa League Group B opener should end 1-1 with nothing to separate these sides. Rennes and AEK Larnaca will hope to make the most of Fener and Dynamo drawing.