Preview: Dynamo Kiev - FC Porto

CelticKing · Nov 5, 2008

Preview: Dynamo Kiev - FC Porto

VS.

What: Champions League Group G, Matchday 4
Who: Dynamo Kiev (2nd, 5pts) v FC Porto (3rd, 3pts)
When: Wednesday, 5th November, 2008 - 20:45 (CET)
Where: Valeri Lobanovskiy Stadium, Kiev

Daunting Dybamo

Dynamo Kiev go into Matchday 4 in Group G knowing that a second successive victory over FC Porto would - if group leaders Arsenal beat Fenerbahce again - almost ensure their participation in the knock-out phase for the first time since they reached the semi-finals in 1998-99. The Ukraine side beat Porto 1-0 at the Estadio do Dragao two weeks ago thanks to a first-half strike from Olexandr Aliyev.

That defeat - only Porto's second in their last 22 Champions League home games - means the 2003-04 European champions need at least a point in Kiev to maintain a realistic chance of progressing. However, should they beat Dynamo, they would go above them into second behind Arsenal.

Dynamo began their campaign with a 1-1 home draw against the Gunners, then drew 0-0 in Istanbul with Fenerbahce before earning that surprise 1-0 win against Wednesday night's opponents Porto, who started strongly by beating Fenerbahce 3-1 at home, but were then beaten 4-0 by Arsenal in London and 1-0 at home to Kiev.

Apart from the fact that Kiev have already beaten Porto once, and now have home advantage, they also go into this game in much the better form. Indeed, Dynamo are top of the Premier League in Ukraine, having dropped just five points from their first 13 matches and with a seven-point lead over second-placed Metalist Kharkiv. At the weekend they recorded their ninth successive Premier League victory by thumping Karpaty Lviv 4-0 at home with goals from Artem Milevskiy, Ismael Bangoura (2) and Aliyev. It was Dynamo's sixth win from seven home games this season, and their 14th from 16 fixtures home and away in all competitions. They are on an unbeaten run of 18 games, with Metalist Kharkiv the only side to have beaten them so far this season (2-1).

Coach Yuri Semin said after Saturday's win: "We played well going forward," he said. "We created some good opportunities and scored some nice goals. We weren't at our best in defence, though, as Karpaty always looked dangerous in front of goal."

Poorly Porto

If that gives Porto any encouragement, they probably need it after slipping to their third straight defeat on Saturday. The run began in the first meeting with Kiev and continued with their first Liga defeat of the season when Leixoes beat them 3-2. The defeat cost Porto leadership of the Liga and was the first time Leixoes had triumphed at the Estadio do Dragao since the 1974-75 season. It was followed by Porto's 0-1 away defeat by A. Naval 1° Maio at the weekend.

Coach Jesualdo Ferreira said after the latest set-back: "We were the better team in the first half and created chances. In the second half we conceded a strange goal, but otherwise we did what we had to do. The players tried everything and created enough chances to win; the ball just didn't want to go in. We are unhappy and dissatisfied, but I cannot fault the players' attitude. It's not often we're in this sort of situation, but we can't call it a crisis."

Nevertheless, the Portuguese champions, down to sixth in the Liga, have now lost three successive competitive games for the first time since March 2005, and it will begin to look like a crisis if they return from Kiev empty-handed on Wednesday.

Confident In Kiev

There is a good chance of that happening because Dynamo, after last season's double disappointment at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk in both the domestic league and cup competitions, have been flourishing since former Lokomotiv Moscow coach Semin took over. Senegalese defender Pape Diakhate told uefa.com this week: "He knows football, he is very patient, he demands a lot from us.

"This is why we have all improved together. Now we feel more like a group. Last season it was more about individuals. They brought in some players, but it is easy to have money and buy players. But when you have a good coach, he can build a team and that's the most important thing."

"Our first Group G game this year against Arsenal at home gave us a lot of hope for the rest of the competition. I think that if we are here, it is a reward for our hard work and we deserve it."

However, the scorer in the first meeting with Porto, Aliyev, was careful not to dismiss Porto's chances of bouncing back. "Of course it is going to be hard," he said. "They have already lost two games and have nothing to lose. It will be difficult for them and it will be difficult for us."

FORM GUIDE

Dynamo Kiev

07 Oct (League) v Zorya Luhansk (H) WON 5-0
21 Oct (Champions League) v FC Porto (A) WON 1-0
25 Oct (League) v Tavriya Simferopol (A) WON 3-1
29 Oct (Cup) v Zorya Luhansk (H) WON 2-0
01 Nov (League) v Karpaty Lviv (H) WON 4-0

FC Porto

05 Oct (League) v Sporting (A) WON 2-1
18 Oct (Cup) v Sertanense (A) WON 4-0
21 Oct (Champions League) v Dynamo Kiev (H) LOST 0-1
25 Oct (League) v Leixoes SC (H) LOST 2-3
01 Nov (League) v A. Naval 1° Maio (A) LOST 0-1

TEAM NEWS

Dynamo Kiev

Oleg Gusev, out since April with cruciate knee ligament damage, and Carlos Correa, who broke his left leg last May, both started for Dynamo's reserves last Friday, although Semin has ruled them out of Wednesday's Porto game, which is too early for the pair.

Ayila Yussuf is still sidelined with a thigh problem, and Malkhaz Asatiani is also suffering with a thigh injury.

Dynamo have also been hit by illness lately. Artem Kravets has missed their last four games after being hospitalised with a bout of bronchitis, while Milos Ninkovic went down with flu at the weekend, but Taras Mikhalik and Olexandr Aliyev were back in the first-team on Saturday after recovering from a virus.

Last Starting XI: Bogush, Betao, Ghioane (Nesmachniy 46), Vukojevic, Aliyev (Zozulya 72), Bangoura, Yeremenko, Diakhate, Mikhalik (Romanchuk 78), Milevskiy, Kaddouri.

Squad: Bogush, Shovkovskiy, Betao, Dopilka, Ghioane, Nesmachniy, Asatiani, Morozyuk, Vukojevic, Aliyev, Zozulya, Bangoura, Yeremenko, Diakhate, Mikhalik, Romanchuk, Milevskiy, Kaddouri, Shatskikh, Ninkovic.

FC Porto

Brazilian goalkeeper Helton has been out since the end of September with a neck injury, and Uruguayan defender Fucile since mid-October with an ankle problem.

Last Starting XI: Nuno, Bruno Alves, Ben*tez (Hulk 46), Rolando, Sapunaru, Lucho, Rodr*guez (Sektioui 60), Raul Meireles, Tomas Costa (Pele 71), Fernando, Lisandro.

Squad: Nuno, Ventura, Bruno Alves, Emanuel, Stepanov, Ben*tez, Rolando, Lino, Sapunaru, Guar*n, Lucho, Rodr*guez, Mariano, Raul Meireles, Sektioui, Tomas Costa, Fernando, Tengarrinha, Pele, Lisandro, Hulk, Farias, Candeias.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Dynamo Kiev

Conakry-born Guinea international striker Ismael Bangoura has scored seven goals in his last four Ukrainian Premier League games, and eight in six in all competitions for club and country. He said ahead of the Porto tie: "We will prepare ourselves and keep on working hard. We need to be ready physically. There's no secret to it - we must work hard." He scored for Dynamo in their home game against Arsenal, and is likely to provide their chief goal threat again when Porto visit Kiev.

FC Porto

Lisandro Lopez, the Argentine striker, is Porto's joint top scorer this season (along with Lucho) with three goals to his name so far - including the last goal they scored. That was in the 61st minute of Porto's 2-3 defeat by Leizoes on 25th October. He's scored eight goals in 21 appearances altogether in the Champions League, and was on target in the 10th minute of his team's opening Group game against Fenerbahce. Lisandro has become a key player for Porto since joining them from Argentine side Racing Club de Avellaneda in 2005, and last season as they won their third successive Portuguese title, he was the League's top scorer with 24 goals in 27 games.
Click to expand...

CelticKing · Nov 5, 2008

Dynamo Kiev 2-2 FC Porto

I'm going to predict a tie here, I think Porto are the better team but you never know, playing in Kiev, etc.

Colonel Ronan · Nov 5, 2008

Agreed, 2-2.

Claud · Nov 6, 2008

Porto won 2-1

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Preview: Dynamo Kiev - FC Porto

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Preview: Dynamo Kiev - FC Porto

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