UEFA Cup Preview: Dynamo Kiev - Valencia

Valencia will be hoping to take something that they can build on in the second leg when they face Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday, and look to put their financial strife to one side.

Feb 17, 2009 4:40:05 PM

More On :  Dynamo Kiev, Valencia CF, Dynamo Kiev vs Valencia CF
Joaquin, Mata and Miguel celebrate during Valencia's comeback Copa del Rey win over Sevilla.
Kick-Off: Wednesday, February 16, 2009, 18.00 CET. Valeri Lobanovskiy, Kiev.

Valencia have another chance to put their off-field problems to one side on Wednesday evening as they look to take something that they can build on from their UEFA Cup trip to face Dynamo Kiev.
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Unai Emery's players have attempted to stay away from the financial crisis gripping the club, but are now unable to because their wages have been affected in the past few weeks.

In the build-up to their trip to Ukraine, Los Che's players have been holding tactical meetings with the coaching staff as well as economic ones with the club's sporting vice-president.

It is a distraction that Emery could certainly do without, but he knows that if his squad are kept fully informed about the club then they will be happier and there will be no rumours or gossip.

To what extent the fact that things are not going well behind the scenes will affect their performances is unclear, although if their display against Malaga was anything to go by then they will need to improve.

Coach Party

That result came on top of a defeat at Osasuna and only two wins in eight league games since the turn of the year, and yet Valencia are still in fourth place while those around them stumble too.

Emery is not under pressure as it is recognised that he is working in difficult circumstances - and the club could not afford either to remove him or attract a new coach at the moment anyway.

Their form may not be great but the team's stock is still high, with Dynamo Kiev's coach, Yuri Semin, having claimed that Los Che were the only team that he did not want to face in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

The Ukrainian club's boss has had to prepare for this tie by keeping his players fit with friendlies and training as they have not played competitively since December 10 when they beat Fenerbahce before exiting the Champions League.

Dynamo Kiev finished three points behind runners-up Arsenal in Group G of European football's elite club competition and four behind winners Porto, but generally held their own.

Three clean sheets in six matches and only two defeats shows just how good Semin's team can be, and Valencia will have to be at their best to take something fruitful from the first leg.


RECENT FORM

Dynamo Kiev

2008
10/12 H 1-0 Fenerbahce
05/12 A 4-3 Illychivets
30/11 H 2-1 Dnipro
25/11 A 0-1 Arsenal
16/11 A 0-1 Shakhtar
09/11 H 1-0 Lviv

Valencia

2009
14/02 H 1-1 Malaga
08/02 A 0-1 Osasuna
01/02 H 3-2 Almeria
29/01 A 1-2 Sevilla
25/01 A 1-3 Real Mallorca
21/01 H 3-2 Sevilla


TEAM NEWS

Dynamo Kiev

Both Carlos Correa and Oleh Gusev are back in the squad having missed the last six months through injury, while new arrivals Serhiy Kravchenko and Guilherme Milhomem Gusmao could also appear. Defender Pape Diakhate is injured and Olexandr Aliyev is suspended

Valencia

Renan Brito is still out and Cesar Sanchez will taste European football for the first time this term with Valencia, while Edu and Alexis are both still out. Miguel and Emiliano Moretti have both travelled despite picking up knocks.


PREDICTION

Valencia's season could start going downhill as their financial problems begin to take precedence, and a long trip to Ukraine will not be something that they will be relishing. Even though Dynamo Kiev have not played competitively for two months they are still in shape and will be too good for their visitors.

Dynamo Kiev 2 - 0 Valencia

Lucas Brown, Goal.com
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