The well-known journalist and editor-in-chief of Futbol magazine Artem Frankov made a prediction for the Champions League qualification match between Dynamo Kyiv and Sturm.
Artem Frankov"It is perfectly clear from the koffs that the bookmakers rate Dynamo Kyiv's chances against Sturm higher than against Fenerbahce, making our club even a slight favorite in the confrontation. But I must draw your attention to the fact that a year ago these coefficients would have been much higher in our favor, and this takes into account several factors:
1) Dynamo's forced personnel reduction - just take Verbych's recent departure to Panathinaikos;
2) a neutral field in Łódź instead of its own stadium;
3) the power of "Sturm", which Christian Ilzer's team demonstrated not only in the last Austrian championship, taking second place, but also in this one, deservedly beating the undisputed favorite of local football RB "Salzburg" at home - 2:1.
In addition to the last point, it is worth noting that "Sturm" usually plays a classic 4-4-2 with a pair of forwards Hoylund - Sarkaria (it could be called Danish-Indian, but it is still Danish-Austrian) and the only defender in person a veteran of the Gorenc-Stankovich team. However, any variations are not excluded - except that Ilzer is unlikely to refuse four defenders and a seven-handed (Siebenhandl!) goalkeeper.
It is also worth noting that the Austrians, having played two rounds of their Bundesliga, caught up with Dynamo in game practice, and it is unlikely that the Ukrainians have any advantage here. Our trump card is something else: Mircea Lucescu's experience, including in the Champions League, is absolutely incomparable with the experience of the young coach of "Sturm", and somewhere here we are obliged to catch the "blacks"!
Koff on the score: 2.18 - 3.25 - 3.50
Per pass: 1.95 - 1.85
My bet: "Dynamo" victory. Although I would take my time with a bet and wait for the starting lineups of the teams: how many attackers will Sturm have, will he aim to keep the opponent or will he offer a game on opposite courses. Then it will be possible to charge something up to the total..." said Frankov.
