Dynamo Kiev

Dynamo Kiev V Braga

Date & Kick-Off: Thursday, 7 April 2011 – 20:05 (GMT)
Venue: Lobanovsky Stadium; Kiev, Ukraine

After receiving unfavourable draws in the Round of 16 with two of the competition’s favourites, there wouldn’t have been too many punters who successfully called that both Dynamo Kiev and Braga, who overcame English duo Manchester City and Liverpool respectively, would still be alive to tell the tale when the draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals were made at the end of March – and the winner of this intriguing tie will tussle with either Benfica or PSV Eindhoven in the semi’s for a place in the final.

It wasn’t so long ago, during the 2008/2009 term, that Dynamo Kiev came within 180 minutes of making their very first appearance in a UEFA final – losing out to bitter rivals Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-final. Braga, however, have already beaten their personal best, with a Round of 16 appearance previously the furtherest they had ever delved in a UEFA tournament.

So, it almost goes without saying that this quarter-final clash is between two clubs who have never been crowned champions of Europe, whether that be in the Champions League or UEFA Cup/Europa League.

But in terms of experience, Dynamo Kiev, who have spent several largely unsuccessful campaigns in the Champions League courtesy of their former dominance of the Ukrainian Premier League, have more air miles on the clock with regards to European competition.

Forages into Europe have come at a premium for Braga, who were eliminated from this season’s Champions League after finishing third in Group H, although they mustered just three points fewer than Arsenal, whom they beat 2-0 in Portugal. Food for thought perhaps for Dynamo.

However, those wily bookmakers make Dynamo Kiev, the hosts for this first leg, overwhelming favourites to secure a first-leg lead before a tricky trip to Portugal. I couldn’t agree more.

Any trip to Eastern European is a daunting experience, but the Ukraine is something else. The conditions are usually always cold, bitter at times, whilst the partisan crowds makes concentrating on the task at hand mighty difficult for the visitors. The proof really is in the pudding, as Dynamo are unbeaten in their last seven home games in Europe – four wins and three draws, including a 2-0 victory over former tournament favourites Manchester City in the Round of 16; haven’t conceded a single goal in their last four and were last beaten in either the UEFA Cup or Europa League at home way back in 1992.

Meanwhile, Braga post a miserable record on the road in Europe this season: W1 D1 L3, and have plundered just one miserly away goal – scoring once in Serbia in a 1-0 victory in Belgrade over Partisan Belgrade, a team who finished rock-bottom of Group H after failing to register a single point. Last season’s runners-up in the Portuguese league did, however, earn a tie-clinching 0-0 draw away at Liverpool last time out.

Final Verdict: Dynamo have been mighty impressive since the start of the knock-outs, brushing an awkward Round of 32 tie with Besiktas to one side with an authoritative 8-1 aggregate victory before impressively ousting Manchester City the following round, who were many people’s idea of the likely tournament winner. Braga have been more clinical in their progress, overcoming both Lech Poznan and Liverpool by single-goal margins, and have struggled immensely for attacking ideas on the road.

Considering how formidable the Ukraine can be, and how formidable Dynamo Kiev have been at home in Europe this season, combined with how average Braga have been on their travels, I see only one winner in Thursday’s contest: Dynamo Kiev.

Shevchenko & Co were unstoppable as they thumped Besiktas 8-1 on aggregate in their first knock-out clash, while they stifled Man City in the last round – two results which don’t just make them appear the most likely winner on Thursday, but also prime contenders for the title itself.

Dynamo Kiev to WIN to NIL – 2.40 with PaddyPower – is also a cracking bet on paper. The Kiev outfit haven’t conceded any in their last four home matches in Europe, while Braga have mustered only one on their travels all season in continental competition.

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Knock-out Progress:

Dynamo Kiev

Round of 32: BEAT Besiktas 8-1 on aggregate (Home 4-0; Away 1-4)
Round of 16: BEAT Manchester City 2-1 on aggregate (Home: 2-0; Away 1-0)

Braga

Round of 32: BEAT Lech Poznan 2-1 on aggregate (Home: 2-0; Away 1-0)
Round of 16: BEAT Liverpool 1-0 on aggregate (Home 1-0; Away 0-0)

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Betting Odds

Win-Draw-Win:

Dynamo Kiev – 1.62 WilliamHill
Draw – 3.80 BetFred
Braga – 6.50 VictorChandler

To Qualify:

Dynamo Kiev – 1.62 Totesport
Braga – 2.62 VictorChandler

Dynamo Kiev V Barcelona

Wednesday 9^th December – 17:30 GMT

Group F

Barcelona, the current reigning champions, require just a point in their final Group F outing. However, they must obtain their point on somewhat hostile ground as they travel to Ukraine to take on a Dynamo Kiev side who have come close to beating Inter Milan on two occasions. Kiev themselves aren’t without hope of qualifying, although they need to beat Barcelona in Kiev and hope the other Group F encounter between Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan finishes in a draw. Were either of the former two mentioned to win then Dynamo would not only have to beat the current champions but also beat them pretty emphatically, either 2-0 or by three clear goals. It’s a big ask and one we feel they won’t have a response to.

Dynamo Kiev

Group F Position: 4^th

Group F Form: WLDLD

Kiev, lead by former AC Milan & Chelsea forward, Andriy Shevchenko, have been a pain the backside for some of their group opponents, mainly Inter Milan. Dynamo came close to back-to-back victories over one of Europe’s greatest sides in Inter Milan, but in the end only came away with a single point, which is why they aren’t in the best of positions right now. A lack of concentration in both encounters with Milan, especially in the latter, a 2-1 defeat in Kiev, was why they dropped crucial points and with those missed chances it could be a case of hoorah-hoorah and better luck next year for the Ukrainian champions, whom, will probably return to the group for the very next Champions League campaign judging by their superiority back home.

Dynamo manager, Valeri Gazzaev, will take heart from Kiev only win in the competition thus far, a 3-1 victory over the Russian champions, Rubin Kazan. That was a game where Kiev went down 1-0 to a first half strike but came back with aplomb in the second half, scoring three goals in the second period to record, what was in the end, an emphatic win. Were it not for that opening day success then Kiev would be on the train home already, metaphorically, as let’s not forget there is a game to be played here, although whether Kiev can raise theirs to challenge Barcelona is another question.

Back home in domestic action, Dynamo Kiev are easing away to what looks to be yet another league title. They are one of just three sides in the Ukrainian top flight to boast an undefeated record at home and yet the only team in the country yet to taste defeat whilst in league action. They are a class apart from the rest in what is a very average league to say the least. However, the mood within the camp should be good whilst their form, albeit back in an average league, is immense, so perhaps we shouldn’t completely discount the Ukrainians just yet.

Barcelona

Group F Position: 1st

Group F Form: DWLDW

Pepe Guardiola will be quietly confident of his sides chances heading into Ukraine, a tough country to visit. The Spanish giants and current leaders of La Liga will look upon not only their most recent champions league success, a superb 2-0 win at home to Inter Milan, but also their 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev in the reverse meeting back at the Nou Camp. However, the Catalan giants have yet to hit top gear as of yet in this years competition and have displayed signs of vulnerability already, mainly against Rubin Kazan, a team not so dissimilar to Dynamo Kiev.

Barcelona tend to play their best football against teams who don’t opt for defensive tactics. With Barcelona liking large periods of ball time, an opponent with a defensive mindset often leads to a long, drawn out encounter with chances few and far between. This was a case in a few of Barcelona’s games last season and it’s certainly been evident in this seasons campaign. Their two games with Kazan, of which they failed to beat the Russians on both occasions, seen Barcelona struggle to break down Kazan’s rock solid defensive approach and Barca’s frustration led to them piling more men forward and getting spanked on the counter. The counter-attack has proven a beneficial tactic against Barcelona this season and Rubin Kazan, who have been a counter-attacking specialist this season, had chances in the home fixture, a 909 draw, which they should of converted. The Russian’s have exposed Barcelona;s biggest flaw it would seem and the Ukrainians do have the raw materials to do something very similar on Tuesday.

However, although the tactics of the game could actually favour the home side, the amount of talent at Guardiola’s disposal is hard to get away from and we’ve been drawn in by their illustrious world-class players. Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Iniesta, Xavi, all are match winners in their own right and all can turn any game completely on it’s head. If Barcelona were to suffer a setback in this game then you would fancy their chances of overturning it. They are one of the strongest teams in the world, perhaps thee strongest, and, although they do look vulnerable to the counter, they should be far too strong for the Kiev defence.

Match Verdict:- Barcelona to WIN – 1.67 Boylesports

We hope this will be a nail-biting affair, one that goes all the way until the final whistle, but we just can’t see it. We feel Barcelona will be far too strong for Kiev on the night and, what with the Ukrainians needing to win and needing at least one goal, we expect Barcelona to catch them out on more then one occasion on the night. A big away victory could be on their cards in what could prove to be an anti-climax.

Match Odds:

Dynamo Kiev – 6.00 Bet365

Draw – 3.75 Bet365

Barcelona – 1.67 Boylesports

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Barcelona to WIN to NIL – 2.75 BlueSquare