EL: Partizan v Dynamo Kyiv preview

Partizan hosts Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday as part of Europa League group stage round 2 fixtures. Game kicks-off at 21.05h CET with local live coverage from RTS TV1.

EL group B other fixture – Skenderbeu v Young Boys – is kicking-off at the same time on Thursday.

Partizan and Dynamo Kyiv previously met In Champions Cup tie back in September 1976, Dynamo won both games, 5:0 agg.

Two sides met over two friendlies as well, in Kyiv on 6^th of July 1955 and in Belgrade on 28^th of April 1976 with both games ending in a goalless stalemate.

TEAM NEWS

Tosic and Kosovic are sidelined due to injuries, Jevtovic, Stojkovic and left-back Miletic are doubtful for Kyiv game.

Partizan pre-match press-conference was attended by coach Miroslav Djukic and midfielder Marko Jankovic.

MIROSLAV DJUKIC:

– This is going to be one tough game against a favourite to win our group. They are Ukranian champions with massive reputation. We have an opportunity to achieve good result – three points would mean a lot standings-wise. Dynamo is uncomfortable when not in possession. They like to hold the ball and control the game. In European competitions, mistakes prove costly. You have to be focused all the way through. You need defensive stability to get closer to a win. European games are very competitive and everyone looks to score from firm defending to start with. I expect firm, hard competitive encounter tomorrow, with small bits making the difference. We`ll try to impose our style of play. It will be an interesting battle regarding ball possession. It will be strange playing in front of empty stands but that`s how it is – we need to play, hopefully, one last game without our fans present. Everyone loses – club, spectators, players, coaches…It`s pointless and shame that this great event will be without attendance. But, it `s a great lesson and I hope we will start to behave according to UEFA rules.

MARKO JANKOVIC:

– We always play to win three points and it will be no different against Dynamo Kyiv. So far, we had great periods of play in European ties. We all know how motivated this team is to play this important competition for us. It will be a great challenge to see what we are made of. There will be no fans at the stands but I`m sure we will all be ready for this game. We need to kick the game of well to gain the positive result. The way we started game away to Olympiakos should be the right example.