Preview: Dynamo Kiev vs. Fenerbahce - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are already out, while Fenerbahce still have to make sure of top spot in Group B.

Match preview

Times are tough for all Ukrainian clubs, but Dynamo are having a dreadful time on the pitch as well this season.

They claimed their first win in five games against Kryvbas at the weekend, but they have slipped 13 points behind league leaders Dnipro-1 with barely a quarter of the season gone.

Also, they have lost any chance of even dropping into the Europa Conference League ahead of Cypriot minnows AEK Larnaca.

AEK came to Krakow and won on matchday two, and they led the Ukrainians 3-1 last week before Denys Garmash bagged a late double to spare any further embarrassment for Dynamo.

They also lost 2-1 in the reverse fixture to Fenerbahce at the start of the group stage, but they actually beat the Turkish side in Champions League qualifying early in the season before falling into the Europa League themselves, thanks to a 114th-minute Oleksandr Karavayev winner in Istanbul.

In contrast, Fener are flying on two fronts, and have lost just once in all competitions since that defeat to Dynamo back in July.

Jorge Jesus's side are one of the highest scorers in Europe, having netted 34 goals in just 11 Super Lig matches (plus 11 in their five UEL games), nine more than any other side in Turkey's top flight.

The deadly duo of Enner Valencia and Michy Batshuayi up front have been the determining factor, with Valencia currently on 13 and Batshuayi on eight, and the latter will be beaming following his hat trick in the 5-2 win over Istanbulspor on Sunday.

Fener are level on points with Rennes and drew both ties with the French side, so goal difference will probably separate the sides, and the Turks currently pip Rennes by one goal going into matchday six.

Therefore, if they match or better Rennes' result, they will win the group and avoid the extra preliminary knockout round, but Rennes face AEK Larnaca at home, so there is an incentive for Fenerbahce to go all out and get another big win here.

Dynamo Kiev Europa League form:

L

L

L

L

D

Dynamo Kiev form (all competitions):

W

L

L

D

D

W

Fenerbahce Europa League form:

W

W

D

W

W

D

Fenerbahce form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

D

W

Team News

Heorhiy Bushchan only returned to the Dynamo Kiev bench at the weekend following a meniscus injury, and Denys Boyko injured his foot against Rukh Lviv last month, so third-choice keeper Ruslan Neshcheret could continue in goal.

Left-back Vladyslav Dubinchak is out with a rib injury having not started since the trip to Rennes, while Mykola Shaparenko, who ruptured his cruciate in the reverse fixture on matchday one, will be out until April.

Vladyslav Supriaha is the other injury absentee, as he will miss out with a hip problem.

Fenerbahce have a trio of players missing with knee injuries at the moment.

Luan Peres and Mert Hakan Yandas both have minor knocks and could return before the World Cup, but Nazim Sangare's cruciate injury has ruled him out until 2023.

Gustavo Henrique is a doubt with a hamstring injury, so Jesus may move to a back four instead of a three, while Diego Rossi has not featured since scoring the winner off the bench against Istanbul Basaksehir two weeks ago.

Serdar Dursun is not registered in their European squad so will drop out of the matchday setup here.

Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:

Neshcheret; Tymchyk, Zabarnyi, Popov, Karavayev; Tsygankov, Sydorchuk, Buyalskyy, Garmash, Kabaev; Vanat

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:

Bayindir; Kadioglu, Aziz, Szalai, Alioski; Arao, Zajc, Kahveci, Lincoln; Batshuayi, Valencia

We say: Dynamo Kiev 1-4 Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce have been a goalscoring machine for much of the season, but have picked up even more in recent weeks.

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