Karabakh — Dynamo Kyiv. On the eve

Last week, before the starting whistle in the first match of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, even Ukrainian fans had little faith that Dynamo Kyiv would be able to hold on to a positive result in the game against Azerbaijan's Karabakh. But Igor Kostyuk's team did it. Yes, a victory with only a minimal score and a goal by Matvii Ponomarenko, which actually does not weigh too much in a two-match duel. However, at least it gives you the opportunity to dream more. KARABAKH — DYNAMO KYIV (FIRST MATCH — 0:1) THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 19:00 ▪️ TOFIK BAHRAMOV REPUBLICAN STADIUM, BAKU ▪️ CHIEF REFEREE — STUART ATWELL (ENGLAND) ▪️ LIVE 2+2 That game also demonstrated that Gurban Gurbanov's team does not really have any extraordinary qualities that would make the success of the "white and blue" something truly unrepeatable. A good and hardworking team with interesting performers from one of the flagships of Azerbaijani football, but nothing more. Dynamo found a counter to him, and although not without moments near their own goal, they shook the parity in the confrontation in their own favor. However, now Kostyuk's team will have to face a test that, in fact, not every "elite" team on a global scale falls to during the season. Flight to Baku. Yes, it is worth talking about separately, and especially in the Ukrainian case, when our teams have to spend an incredible amount of time on logistics, which in this particular case is already simply insane. Dynamo did not have the opportunity to postpone the UPL match last weekend, so in the end they also started in the national championship. Kostyuk's team had a difficult trip to Rivne Veres, but again - victorious. Of course, the coaching staff had to use a deep rotation, which was simply unavoidable. And all for the sake of leaving at least a ghostly chance before the return match. Because you will also have to fight against the conditions. It will be around +31°C on the thermometer scale in Baku when the match starts and, as we have already seen from the recent matches of the national team of Ukraine, the pitch of the stadium in Baku looks quite difficult even in more comfortable weather conditions. So, of course, Gurbanov's team will try to squeeze the maximum out of themselves, even in front of their own fans. And here is actually an interesting question, because in Azerbaijan the national championship has not yet started, so Karabakh has only European Cup matches in the schedule of official matches. That is why the Stallions' coaches had to spend the last week thinking about what to do with the flanks of the defense, where Jafarkuliyev on the left could not finish the first game due to injury, and Makretskis was sent off for a rough foul on Kabayev. Due to the rotation in the previous game, Dynamo should not have such problems - even before the match against Veres, Kostyuk knew who would play him from the first minutes in Baku. As a conclusion, we can say that we, our fan circle, have already been burned by pessimism about Dynamo's prospects before the first game. Kostyuk's team, at least in the last week, has really given little cause for criticism, if we take into account purely the result. And only the result is needed, when the same three "finals" remain until the fall of the European Cup, which must be passed step by step. Can the people of Kyiv do it? The first match showed that it is really possible. However, it is already clear that we will have to work even harder. According to the bookmakers, the players of the Azerbaijani club have more chances of success today. Thus, a 1.81 coefficient is offered for the victory of Karabakh in the main time, while the potential success of Dynamo Kyiv is estimated at 4.05. The probability of a draw is represented by a coefficient of 3.99. 📋 GUIDELINES KARABAKH: Kohalski — Silva, Mustafazade, Varkonyi, Langa — Yankovich, Pedro — Muaddib, Zubir, Sefas — Kashchuk. DYNAMO KYIV: Surkis — Sych, Kendzera, Mykhavko, Dubinchak — Brazhko, Rubchinbroadcaster — Guerrero, Lonvejk, Redushko — Ponomarenko. ⚔️ PERSONAL MEETINGS 📊 CURRENT FORM forecast 1:1