Context
Each time a British team is drawn with an eastern European team there is always a sense of worry amongst supporters and team officials who know that there is a direct correlation between hooliganism and football in Eastern Europe. In Ukraine, such hooliganism is still an issue that hasn’t been resolved, as was evident in their last Europa league tie against French outfit Guingamp, in which Dynamo will have to answer to charges of crowd disturbance- in particular, the throwing of fireworks and supporters entering the field of play. Guingamp’s President Bernard Desplat in a press conference described their fans as “Militiamen,” after the game was forced to be suspended after just fifteen minutes due to crowd trouble. Everton have issued a warning over buying tickets before their allocation is confirmed as fans are at risk of getting a ticket in the wrong end. This behaviour of Dynamo’s fans in France has left the club in an awkward position as they have been charged by the governing body and will be forced to play their next European tie against the Blues with a partial closure of the stadium. However, the general consensus for all fans is to be vigilant during both legs.
Since breezing past Young Boys 7-2 over the two legs and our record- breaking striker for the first time this season looking like he could actually fill his potential, Evertonians are hearing the word ‘Warsaw’ louder and louder each day. But Dynamo Kyiv won’t fall over so easily, are a much more impressive team, and boast an impressive record this season (especially at home). Kyiv are unbeaten at home this campaign, with eleven wins and three draws and are top of the league which should send shivers down the backs of any Toffee. However, something positive we can take from their statistics is that they don’t travel too well, with losses to both Guingamp and Aalborg, who are hardly European giants. Kyiv have a few players that should cause us problems. Martinez has already pinpointed the threat of two players: Andriy Yarmolenko, who is their top scorer in both the league and Europe, and Miguel Veloso, a Portuguese international midfielder who scored twice against the Blues when they faced Sporting Lisbon in their last Europa campaign. Yet, looking at statistics Everton blow them out of the water attacking wise , scoring seventeen and conceding five, which is a very promising statistic. Belgian duo Lukaku and Mirallas have nine goals and two assists between them which if continues should mean another easy Thursday night. Baines has our most assists in Europe and is a doubt for the game but if youngster Luke Garbutt is his replacement, his absence shouldn’t be sorely missed.
Club History
Dynamo Kyiv is a Ukrainian professional football club based in Kiev. They were founded in 1927 as part of the Soviet Dynamo Sports Society. Dynamo Kyiv are arguably Ukraine’s most popular football club, boasting several accomplishments in both Europe and domestically. The clubs golden era was during the 1970’s and 80’s in which they won two UEFA Cup Winners Cup titles in 1975 and 1986 as well as the European Super Cup in 1975. They have never won any of the modern European cups despite reaching the Semi-Finals of the Champions League three times and the UEFA Cup once in 2009. Domestically they are just as impressive, winning the Ukrainian Premier league thirteen times, the Ukrainian Cup ten times and the Ukrainian Super Cup five times, more than any other Ukrainian team. The team have also never been relegated from the Ukrainian Premier League.
Recent Form
Kyiv’s league form is very impressive not having lost all season in the Ukrainian Premier League and the Ukrainian Cup. Dynamo Kyiv have only lost twice in all competitions this season both coming in the Europa League, against Aalborg and recently Guingamp. They are also an impressive 7 points clear of Champions League side, Shakhtar Donetsk in the league.
