Former Dynamo and Ukraine national team midfielder Vitaliy Kosovskiy made a prediction for the first match of the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League between Dynamo and Partizan.
Vitaly Kosovsky
- I am looking forward to this match. The start of any tournament, and the Champions League even more so, is always interesting, as each of the participants approaches new challenges with ambitious hopes. I hope that Kyiv will finally make their opponents consider themselves on the international arena.
- What impression did the Dynamo players make on you at the last training camp in Austria?
- I mostly limited myself to reviews, but I watched a few TV broadcasts of their friendlies. What stood out? Kyiv started to combine faster, more often created scoring chances, there were enough shots from distance. On the other hand, they were not faulty in defense again, in particular, in the last sparring - with German "Union". And it's good that such mistakes happened in friendly matches, but we can not step on the same rake. We should draw conclusions.
- Dynamo players have worked quite actively on the transfer market. Who of the new recruits would you mark?
- As for me, Oleksandr Pikhalenok is a valuable acquisition. He can play qualitatively on several positions, he can beat his opponents and escalate the situation, he has a strong shot, acts out of the box. I hope that he had enough time to find a common language with his new partners.
- "Partizan" maintains close ties with the teams of the aggressor country. Will it add sports anger to Shovkovskiy's charges?
- I think so. It looks wild in general: UEFA has banned the Russian national team and clubs to participate in official competitions, but it does not prevent the Serbian national team and leading teams of this country to play friendly matches with them. Well, let it be on the conscience of Partizan players.
I hope that such Serbian behavior will encourage Oleksandr Shovkovskiy's charges to demonstrate their best qualities. It would only be better to avoid clashes on the pitch, which can lead to suspensions and injuries. Therefore, Kyivians should be ready for the tactics of petty fouls on the part of "partisans".
- Then, lastly, can you try yourself as an oracle?
- In my opinion, Dynamo will be the favorite today in Lublin. The Kyiv team's greater international experience should have an impact. In the first half a lot of effort will be spent on scouting, more interesting events will unfold after the break. I am inclined to believe that Dynamo will take the upper hand, but it will be difficult. After all, that's what the Champions League is all about," Kosovskiy said.
Maxim Kovalenko
