Ghent – Dynamo Kiev. Prediction and match announcement – Champions League

“There is only one step left for the group stage of the Champions League. But this step must be passed. It will be a tough match in two games. Gent is a good and competitive team. We saw her last year against Alexandria. We need to tune in in the most serious way, ”this is how Dynamo president Igor Surkis described the upcoming match against the Belgian vice champions. But, frankly, in the words of the head of the capital club there is more diplomacy than analysis. Because Gent, who played Alexandria last year and this year, are two big differences. And Igor Mikhailovich must know this.

Ghent from last season is a really serious unit. The team was on the move, both at the European level and in the Belgian championship. But after the 2019/2020 Jupile League was quarantined and did not return, Ghent has changed almost beyond recognition. And for the worse.

The team suffered serious losses in the offseason. First of all, it must be said that creative midfielder Davis left Gent, who moved to Lille for € 32 million. Belgium’s vice-champion has lost main goalkeeper Kaminski and defender Lustig. Instead, five new players were acquired at once, but they have not actually joined the team yet.

As a result, the team got off to a bad start to the new season, and their coach Yessa Torup opened the door. Laszlo Boloni, who replaced the Dane, headed Gent for 25 days, after which he left after his predecessor. Now at the helm of “Ghent” – De Decker, 38, Boloni’s former assistant. Under his leadership, the Buffaloes passed in third place in the Rapid Champions League. And also in his asset – a victory in the last round of the Belgian championship over the modest “Mouscron” – 1: 0. By the way, this victory was only the second for “Gent” in six games (the rest were defeats). After six rounds played, “Gent” is only 13th in the rankings. “With a Dynamo like this, Gent has no chance,” said former team coach Torup, impressed by the Kiev players’ play against AZ. Perhaps the former mentor of the “buffalo” was guided by a feeling of resentment and hurt pride, but in part he is right: “Gent” is now more tormented than playing.

In addition, the Belgian runners-up are experiencing certain personnel problems. Our Roman Bezus is not in shape, who, most likely, will not play against his former club. Participation in the match with Sven Kums and Laurent Depuatre, the key players, is questionable. So either beat Gent now, or never.

Mircea Lucescu understands this very well. Apparently, the Dynamo coach will bet on getting into the group stage of the Champions League, where the Dynamo has not been for three years. Now for Lucescu this question is a matter of honor.

In the last match before leaving for Ghent, against Lvov in the third round of the UPL, the Mister from Kiev naturally decided to rotate, giving the opportunity to play for those who have little playing practice. The opportunity was given, but the “apprentices” did not take advantage of it: in the second half they had to actually drop the base to save the game. In the end, they won the victory – 3: 1, but it was not easy for the Kievites.

The personnel question on the eve of the first meeting with Gent remains the most difficult for the Dynamo: the club’s hospital is not yet empty. Although Shabanov and Shepelev were “discharged”, whom Lucescu included among those who left for Ghent. But most likely these two will not play on Wednesday; they have practically no game practice.

The most controversial personnel issue is who will play center defense. There are several options at the same time. But if we assume that Lucescu is unlikely to risk putting Shabanov on, then there are automatically only two of these options: either Mikolenko will play in tandem with Zabarny and Karavaev will be transferred to the left flank, or Sirota will play Zabarny and Mikolenko will remain in his position. … To some extent, the position of the far right remains controversial: Tsygankov or Rodrigesh.

Dynamo had previously crossed paths with Gent in the 2010 Champions League playoffs. And the Buffaloes passed smoothly: 3: 0 and 3: 1. Last season, Oleksandriya played Gent in the Europa League group – 1 : 1 at Lviv Arena and 2: 1 in Ghent. In 2015, Gent and Shakhtar won in the Europa League group – 5: 0 and 5: 3. So, historically, “Gent” can be considered a suitable opponent for the Ukrainian teams.

Please note that the match will be judged by the Romanian referee team led by Ovidiu Hatzigan.

Approximate compositions:

Ghent: Rufus, Fortuna, Plastun, Arslanagic, Ovusu, Marech, Dorsch, Castro Montes, Botaka, Yaremchuk, Depuatre

“Dynamo”: Bushchan, Kendzera, Zabarny, Mikolenko, Karavaev, Sidorchuk, Shaparenko, De Pena, Rodríguez, Buyalsky, Supryaga.

September 23, Wednesday