On July 31, Belgrade will host a second Champions League qualifying match between local side Partizan and Dynamo Kyiv. Former Ukrainian national team player Oleh Shelayev assessed the opponents' chances in today's clash in the Serbian capital:
Oleg Shelayev- After the crushing victory in Lublin, Dynamo should have no problems in the return leg. Especially since it will be played without the fans, who are the real 12th player for Partizan, always pushing the team forward.
Still, 6:2 in the first match is more than a comfortable score. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the Kyiv coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi will make sure that his team takes the field without a cap-throwing mood. The Champions League does not forgive this.
- In your opinion, will Andriy Yarmolenko, who did not perform well in Lublin, appear in the starting lineup?
- In my opinion, Shovkovskyi will not change the winning lineup and Yarmolenko will come on from the first minutes. The veteran needs a game tone, especially since Shovkovskyi does not hide his interest in Yarmolenko.
- Should we expect a flurry of activity from Partizan in the opener, because a quick goal can help to return the intrigue to some extent?
- I do not exclude the option that the hosts will attack more in the opening minutes, but Dynamo will gradually push the game away from their possessions and continue to act from a position of strength. I recall that in the qualifiers for the 2020 European Championship, the national team of Ukraine crushed the Serbs 5-0 in Lviv, and many experts were of the opinion that the Balkans would take confident revenge on their home field. However, this did not happen, the rivalry was on the opposite course and ended in a 2-2 draw.
I think that this time, too, a peace agreement will be signed, or Dynamo will win with a minimal advantage.
- Unlike Kyiv, who have not yet started in the UPL. "Partizan has already won two confident victories in the Serbian league and leads the standings. Can this somehow affect the course of today's confrontation?
- First of all, these are different tournaments. In the first match in Lublin, Dynamo showed their best game in recent years. I am convinced that this is etched in the memory of the Partizan players. Therefore, the psychological advantage will be on the side of the guests. Yes, the Belgrade team will try to rehabilitate for the crushing defeat, but Kyiv has a more balanced team, higher performance skills. And this will make itself felt.
Oleg Didukh
