Well-known journalist Mykola Nesenyuk shared his impressions of the first match of the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League between Dynamo Kyiv and Austrian Sturm (1:0), which took place yesterday in Lodz, Poland.
"Dynamo Kyiv's game in the Champions League qualifier against Austrian Sturm, which took place at the same stadium as the match with Turkish Fenerbahce two weeks ago, looked completely different. There were half as many people in the stands, and this is not surprising - now Dynamo fans are in no way ready to travel abroad to the team's matches. The Ukrainian part of the audience was made up of local Ukrainians, who are not that big of football fans - for them, going to the stadium is more a sign of solidarity than a manifestation of fan sympathies.
Therefore, two hundred real fans of the guests who arrived from Austria created more noise in the football arena than several thousand Ukrainians. When it's easier, the degree of opposition both on the field and in the stands was an order of magnitude lower than during the game with the team from Istanbul.
Having given a lot of energy and emotions in the previous duel, Dynamo played just as cautiously. The opponent did not look as aggressive and not only because of a slightly lower skill level. The Austrian team did not apply a wide range of football "tricks", as the Turkish team did before. There were no provocations, simulations, rudeness and the like. There was more actual football, in which the Ukrainian team looked more convincing.
Why did "Dynamo" score only once and no longer hit the "frame" of the opponent's goal? In my opinion, the responsibility for the result weighed on the team - in the matches "in the air", when it comes to playing for the Champions League, it is hardly worth the risk. Another thing is that when you try to avoid a mistake as much as possible, this mistake still happens. The guests could not punish Dynamo for it due to the lack of high class and the same excitement.
Unfortunately, or perhaps not unfortunately, we cannot expect a spectacular game from Dynamo Kyiv in the European arena these days. So far, there is a struggle for a result. And it is far from over in the duel against Sturm..." Nesenyuk wrote on his Facebook page.