Salzburgvs.Dynamo Kiev

Group-stage regulars in recent years, Salzburg are within a whisker of returning to Europe's top table - but Dynamo will be determined to fight back.

Match preview

Throughout a first leg that took place in Poland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Salzburg's young side again showed their potential, with a 2-0 win securing a strong lead ahead of this week's return.

The Austrian club put themselves in pole position to qualify, as Dorgeles Nene and in-form midfielder Maurits Kjaergaard scored in either half, with the latter's ice-cool penalty kick tightening their grip on the tie.

Having let their domestic crown slip last term, Die Roten Bullen have something to prove in 2024-25, as after a decade of dominance they lost out to title rivals Sturm Graz on the final matchday.

Former Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders was then hired, and after securing progress in the Austrian Cup and winning two Bundesliga matches, the Dutchman then led his new side through their opening Champions League qualifier against Twente.

Nene and Kjaergaard were also on target in that third-round contest, before Malian forward Moussa Yeo scored the winner in Salzburg's most recent league game, away to LASK.

Having benefited from a weekend off to prepare, they now reconvene with a Dynamo side that will be desperate to improve on their first-leg showing.

With captain Andriy Yarmolenko enduring an off-day in front of goal, and Oleksandr Karavaev pulling Yeo down to concede a penalty, it was a frustrating night for Dynamo at their adopted 'home' stadium in Lublin.

The Ukrainian giants had already seen off Partizan Belgrade and Rangers to reach the final hurdle of Champions League qualifying, having missed out on an automatic place after failing to take top spot in their domestic league last season.

Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's side finished two points adrift of champions Shakhtar Donetsk, but they have already started their quest to regain the title with back-to-back league wins.

Like Tuesday's hosts, Dynamo had their top-flight fixture postponed at the weekend, so they will arrive in Austria fresh for the challenge of overturning a two-goal deficit.

Amid all the off-field instability that has surrounded the club since war broke out, they still reached the Champions League playoffs two years ago, before losing to Benfica - but it will take an almighty comeback to go one step further this season.

Red Bull Salzburg Champions League form:

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Red Bull Salzburg form (all competitions):

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Dynamo Kiev Champions League form:

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Dynamo Kiev form (all competitions):

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Team News

While Salzburg may still be without last term's 20-goal top scorer Karim Konate, they still have plenty of attacking options available for Tuesday's second leg.

Moussa Yeo was named UEFA's 'Player of the Match' in Poland and has already recorded seven goal involvements so far this season, which puts him alongside midfielder Maurits Kjaergaard, who scored his fifth goal in seven games last week.

Holding off competition from Serbian striker Petar Ratkov to start up front, Yeo should be supported by much-admired forward Oscar Gloukh, who netted a Bundesliga hat-trick against Blau-Weiss Linz earlier this month.

Freshly arrived from Liverpool, new number 10 Bobby Clark could also be named in the hosts' squad.

Meanwhile, Dynamo are set to persist with the attack that came up short in Lublin, with veteran striker Andriy Yarmolenko again partnering young Vladyslav Vanat in the final third.

Volodymyr Brazhko and Mykola Shaparenko should once more be joined by Oleksandr Pikhalyonok in central midfield, while the visitors' back four could be unchanged in the injury-enforced absence of Maksym Dyachuk.

Red Bull Salzburg possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Dedic, Baidoo, Piatkowski, Terzic; Bidstrup, Gourna-Douath, Kjaergaard; Gloukh, Yeo, Nene

Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:

Bushchan; Karavaev, Popov, Mykhavko, Dubinchak; Brazhko, Shaparenko, Pikhalyonok; Yarmolenko, Vanat, Kabayev

We say: Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 Dynamo Kiev (Red Bull Salzburg win 4-1 on aggregate)

Taking a two-goal lead into the second leg has seen Salzburg progress in 14 of their past 15 European knockout ties, and they should comfortably continue in that vein on Tuesday.

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