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Dynamo Kiev v Chelsea | Champions League Preview

Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea will lock horns on Tuesday night to resume proceedings in what has been an unpredictable Group G where hot favourites Chelsea sit third following a shock defeat in Portugal against FC Porto. The Ukrainian side top the group with four points on the back of an impressive 2-0 away win in Israel. The Kiev club have a formidable record at home in European games having lost just one in their last ten home games in European competitions, recording seven wins and will look to stretch their record come Tuesday even against an opponent of Chelsea’s calibre.

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For Chelsea, it’s been a season of a drastic drop in quality in that they have just not been able to get the wins that they so easily managed in the last title-winning campaign. Mourinho’s Blues seemed to struggle in Europe too after the side suffered an away defeat in Porto following a 4-0 win at home, meaning only a win in Ukraine can make things easier as far qualification to the knockout stages is concerned. They will make the trip to NSK Olimpiyskyi off the back of a facile win against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

Team News

The Ukrainian side have a few key injuries ahead of the clash on Tuesday that includes midfielder Younes Belhanda (stomach). They will also have to cope without defender Makarenko and midfielder Myakushko for Chelsea’s visit.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea will be without defender Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring) and Thibaut Courtois but the rest are fit to travel to Ukraine.

Recent Form

Recent Form (courtesy goal.com)

Interesting Numbers

  • This is the first ever competitive game between Dinamo Kiev and Chelsea.
  • Dynamo Kiev’s last Champions League win against an English side was in October 2003 versus Arsenal. Since then, they have won none of their last five (D1 L4).
  • Chelsea’s only previous encounter with a Ukrainian side was against Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2012/13 Champions League group stages. They lost 2-1 away from home before securing a 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge.

Key Men Comparison

Junior Moraes (Dynamo Kyiv) v Diego Costa (Chelsea)

Dinamo Kiev have had a good run in the Champions League so far, unbeaten, and sit at the top of the group. The Ukrainian side have scored four goals in two encounters including the vital goal scored by Junior Moraes against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the 2-0 win and with Chelsea’s defence being unsure and suspect for most part of the new season, he would fancy his chances to score past Asmir Begovic. and pull off a famous upset.

It’s been a largely eventful season for Diego Costa for all the wrong reasons but the Spaniard proved he could still cut it for Chelsea with a brace against Aston Villa. The Blues have been unconvincing at the back but that could be outweighed and made up for if they could play to their strengths and vast attacking potential and score goals at the other end, never mind the defence. With Costa fit and firing again, Chelsea could still turn their season around, starting from the game on Tuesday.

Prediction

Chelsea to kick on and grab another win in Ukraine on the bounce.

Dynamo Kyiv 1-2 Chelsea

Aashish Murali
Aashish Murali
I can bore you to tears.
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