Dynamo Kiev vs. Sporting Braga: UEFA Europa League – Preview
Yuri Syomin’s Dynamo Kiev will take on Domingos Paciencia’s Sporting Braga in the first-leg of the quarter-final of the UEFA Europa League.
The match will be played at the Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium in Kiev on Thursday, 7 April, 2011.
Dynamo Kiev
Dynamo are second in the Ukrainian Premier League with 49 points, 12 adrift of leaders Shakhtar Donetsk. The Kiev side has scored 42 goals so far in the League and has conceded only 18 in the process.
The Ukrainians have had a brilliant campaign in Europe in the ongoing 2010-11 season and produced a sensational result in March 2011 when they defeated Manchester City to reach the last eight of the competition. The Billo-Syni won the first leg 2-0 and lost
the return fixture at Eastlands but eventually progressed on aggregate.
Syomin’s side has won three of the last five games played in the Europa League. They drew one while their only loss came at the hands of Manchester City at Eastlands.
Sporting Braga
The Portuguese side has struggled in the Superliga this season and are currently in third place with 40 points. They are a staggering 31 points behind League leaders http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186. Their European qualification for the next season also looks doubtful as fourth
placed Sporting Lisbon are catching up fast on them.
Nevertheless, the Archbishops have had a sensational European campaign. They shocked contenders http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lech-Poznan-c39779 in the Round of 32 with a 2-1 aggregate.
Team news
Dynamo Kiev
The home side will welcome back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andriy-Yarmolenko-c6021 will provide
attack options in wider midfield roles.
Sporting Braga
The Braga side has no major injury concerns. Brazilian forward Lima will start upfront for the away side while Alan and Paulo Cesar will play in their respective wing roles. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-Viana-c16425 in the centre of the park for the visitors.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andriy-Shevchenko-c6014
The veteran has been influential in his team’s superb performance in Europe in the current season and will be hoping to put in another match-winning performance for his side. The former AC Milan striker is to play a part in the match considering his experience
and goal scoring ability.
Lima
The Brazilian is the club’s top goal scorer in the ongoing campaign and has scored six goals from a total of 16 games. He will be hoping to add to the impressive goal tally and lead his side to a good result by scoring a crucial away goal.
Prediction
Dynamo Kiev have been in stunning form all season at home and have been unbeaten in the competition at the Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium.
They are expected to dominate the game and score goals. The Ukrainian giants will beat Sporting Braga 3-0.
Tags: