The lack of inexperience has been the undoing of Dynamo Kyiv, who are still winless in Champions League play after five group stage matches. Nonetheless, the team will look to end its Champions League season on a high at home this Tuesday as it tries to upend Besiktas’ own bid for a spot in the Group of 16.
Despite having nine academy graduates in their lineup, Dynamo Kyiv managed to come away with a goalless draw against current Group B leaders Napoli the last time out. It was a valiant effort to salvage a draw in Italy a couple of weeks ago, as games away from home have not been kind to the youthful Ukranians.
And despite having lost at home to Napoli and Benfica earlier this season, Dynamo Kyiv are still a much better bunch on home soil of late. Counting non-Champions League matches, they still have seven wins at NSC Olympiskiy over the past two months. Their last outing, a 4-0 shutout of Olimpik Donetsk in the Ukranian Premier League circuit, is also an encouraging sign heading into Tuesday’s contest.
The last match against Besiktas ended in a 1-1 draw in Turkey, and you can bet that head coach Sergei Rebrov will come very prepared to get one over his team’s group rivals to close a disappointing Champions League campaign.
Defending Super Lig champions Besiktas are still alive and well in Champions League play, as they need to secure a win over Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday and hope that a loser will be decided between Napoli and Benfica this week as well in order to make it through the next stage of the tournament.
The Turkish club hasn’t dominated the field, but it has done more than enough to remain in the talks of actual championship contention. Besiktas are unbeaten over the past 18 games overall since August, and they’ve also fared well away from home with six road wins over their last eight.
However, a bout against Dynamo Kyiv might be the last thing that Besiktas needs, as they’ve lost six of their last 11 matches against Ukranian clubs. They’ve even lost four and drawn once in their last five games played in Ukraine.
Nevertheless, Besiktas’ enters Tuesday’s match with a win over Napoli and three draws from the all action in Group B, which is way more productive than what Dynamo Kyiv has shown thus far. For as long as Ricardo Quaresma or Vincent Aboubakar – each with three goals this season in Champions League play – get to score early on in Kyiv, their berth into the Group of 16 stage can pretty much be locked up already.
Writer’s Prediction
Besiktas (+123) easily qualifies for the next round of the tournament with a rare win in Ukraine, 2-0.
