Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern – Champions League Preview

Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern – Champions League Preview

Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern – Wednesday 17:30 BT/18:30 CET at NSK Olimpiyskyi in Kyiv.

Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern will take place a the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv.

Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern will take place a the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv.

Dynamo Kyiv will kick off their European campaign this Wednesday against the Swiss side Young Boys Bern. Having finished second in the Ukrainian Premier League behind Shakhtar Donetsk Dynamo will now have to go through two rounds of qualifying to reach the group stage of Europe’s premier competition.

For Dynamo Kyiv reaching the UEFA Champions League group stage is of vital importance. The club is currently under financial constraint after the Ukrainian Privat Bank was nationalised in the spring. The nationalisation of the bank meant that the Surkis brothers, who own Dynamo, had some of their assets frozen and therefore were not able to invest freely in the club this summer.

New head coach Alyaksandr Khatskevich is therefore forced to use mostly players that were part of former head coach Serhiy Rebrov’s setup. Rebrov left the club after Dynamo failed to secure the title and crashed out of the Champions League group stage last season. The prospect of not being able to invest in the squad and at the same time fulfil lofty expectations meant that Rebrov felt it was time to move on.

For Khatskevich, therefore, reaching the group stage of the UEFA Champions League would give Dynamo the necessary funds to strengthen a somewhat decimated squad. But before even considering the group stage they will have to overcome a significant obstacle.

Young Boys Bern in the meantime face Ukrainian opposition at the qualification stage for the second year in the row. Last season they drew Shakhtar Donetsk at this juncture of the competition, and although the Ukrainians were widely considered the favourites, Bern managed to shock the Miners and eliminate Shakhtar.

Dynamo will, therefore, be warned and try to avoid the faith of their biggest rival. After all reaching the group stage of the competition might be their most significant objective of the season.

Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys – Player to look out for:

Dieumerci Mbokani #70 – Dynamo Kyiv

Dieumerci Mbokani is back at Dynamo Kyiv after spending the 2015-16 and 2016-17 season out on loan at Norwich City and Hull City. The Congolese striker managed seven goals in 29 English Premier League games for Norwich but then disappointed for Hull last year were played just 12 games and scored no goals. The coaching change at Dynamo and the lack of funds to bring in new players has meant that Mbokani has the chance of a new beginning under new Dynamo coach Khatskevich. Thus far it looks like he is making most of his chance as he scored the game winner in the all-Ukrainian Derby against Shakhtar Donetsk on Saturday night.

Dieumerci Mbokani is one of the many loaned out players that have returned to Ukraine during this transfer window. (ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)

Dieumerci Mbokani is one of the many loaned out players that have returned to Ukraine during this transfer window. (ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)

Guillaume Hoarau #99 – Young Boys Bern

Guillaume Hoarau is Young Boys Bern’s top striker. The 33-year-old Frenchman scored 18 goals in 21 Swiss Super League games last season. A tall and powerful striker Hoarau has the experience of having played for Paris Saint-Germain (161 games 51 goals) and the French national team (five games). In a relatively young side, Hoarau experience and goal scoring prowess will be significant in the Swiss team’s endeavour to advance to the next round.

Guillaume Hoarau (L) is Young Boys most experienced player. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Guillaume Hoarau (L) is the Young Boys most experienced player. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern – Match Stats

  • This is the first ever encounter between Dynamo and Young Boys.
  • The two cities are separated by 1729km
  • Young Boys Bern eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk in the third round of UEFA Champions League qualifying last season,
  • Khatskevich was appointed ahead of this season.

Futbolgrad’s Prediction: Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern 2-1

Dynamo Kyiv vs Young Boys Bern – Possible Lineups

Dynamo Kyiv

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Koval – Kadar, Khacheridi, Vida, Morozyuk – Shepelev, Sydorchuk – González, Garmash, Yarmolenko – Mbokani

Manager: Aleyksandr Khatskevich

Young Boys Bern

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Von Ballmoos – Benito, Nuhu, von Bergen, Mbabu – Aebischer, Sanogo – Sulejmani, Assalé, Ravet – Hoarau

Manager: Adi Hütter

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Manuel Veth is a freelance journalist and social media junior editor at Bundesliga.com. He is also a holder of a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which will be available in print soon. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.

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