Group F
Kick-off: 19:45 (BST)
Dynamo Kyiv and Sporting Lisbon go into this encounter on the back of disappointing domestic results at the weekend.
Dynamo lost 1-0 at home against the bottom club, Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka, while Sporting have failed to win in four games in all competitions, including Saturday’s 0-0 Liga draw at arch-rivals Benfica.
“I didn’t expect a display like that from the team I picked. Maybe we overestimated ourselves,” said Dynamo coach Jozsef Szabo.
“Now we have to restore pride and perform against Sporting. I hope my players don’t take it easy,” added the recently-appointed Szabo. “I do not need to motivate them for this match. This a serious competition, a serious rival, so the players have to motivate themselves to give their all. I need the lads to be itching to play at their best, which was not the case against Naftovyk.
“Sporting are a quick side who play well on the break, they have pace and skilful players so they will cause us problems. We respect them but we are not going to lose. We will give them a battle in order to progress in the Champions League.”
Szabó is boosted by striker Kleber’s return to fitness after a bout of flu while defender Andriy Nesmachniy is back in training following a thigh injury. However, central defender Pape Diakhate (broken collarbone) and leading scorer Ismaël Bangoura (rib) both miss out.
Sporting, meanwhile, are optimistic that midfielder Marat Izmailov will return following an achilles problem.
“He was looking OK in training and I am happy with his physical condition. However, we will have to wait to see if he can play,” said coach Paulo Bento, who is still without long-term absentees Pedro Silva, Derlei (both knee) and Marián Had (thigh).
Bento understands the importance of collecting all three points against Dynamo
“We have set ourselves certain goals, including getting to the knockout stage. The Dynamo match is very important but I do not think it is a decider,” he said.
“Matches at this level rarely have many goals, especially when both sides are striving for victory. So interceptions, fast breaks and switching quickly from defence to attack become important, and we feel strong in these areas. But do not anticipate many goals.”
