Spartak Moscow v Dynamo Kyiv preview

By: j | August 12th, 2008

In what is surely one of the most exciting of Champions League qualifying matches tomorrow, Dynamo Kyiv return to Moscow to face Spartak Moscow. Prior to the break-up of the Soviet Union, Spartak and Dynamo Kyiv were the two most successful clubs in the country and while they haven’t met in thirteen years, the rivalry is far from dead. FC Dynamo Kyiv President Ihor Surkis put it best: “We have to beat Spartak. The players have to understand that and give all they have to win.”

The last week has been a turbulent period for Spartak with Valeri Karpin assuming the duties of general director and long-time cornerstones of the club Yegor Titov and Maxym Kalynychenko moved out. However while it has been a bit of a stumbling period, they will be looking to go on the attack against their old nemesis. Both squads come in from weekend draws, Spartak’s 1-1 against Khimki and Dynamo Kyiv 2-2 against Vorskla Poltava and unquestionably had an eye towards this historic match-up.

While the lineups have not been announced I am expecting Dynamo Kyiv to come out with a very attacking 4-3-3 with Miloš Ninković, Tiberiu Ghioane and Ognjen Vukojević in the mid-field and a striking trio of Oleksandr Aliyev, Maksim Shatskikh, and Artem Milevskyy up-front. Spartak will throw forward a very aggressive attack with Mozart and Vladimir Bystrov pushing forward from the midfield to sharpshooter Roman Pavluchenko and a rising star in the game, Nikita Bazhenov, at Striker. Interesting to note Dyiv will start Olexandr Shovkovskiy at ‘keeper who played the last time the clubs met.

There are a host of great matches tomorrow but one of the most exciting rivalries is Spartak Moscow versus Dynamo Kyiv. I will provide a full report after the match.