Partizan Belgrade vs Dynamo Kyiv

Partizan Belgrade hope to pull off an unprecedented turnaround and overcome Dynamo Kyiv in their Champions League second-round qualifying tie as the two teams meet at the Partizan Stadium for the second leg.

Partizan’s quest to secure a place in the Champions League third qualifying round for the first time since 2017/18 is nearly dead in the water following an embarrassing 6-2 first-leg loss last week. Aleksandar Stanojevic’s side responded well to that battering in their domestic championship over the weekend, demolishing minnows Jedinstvo Ub 4-0 on the road to maintain a 100% league start (W2). Back to the continental front, Partizan must achieve the unthinkable to overturn a substantial four-goal deficit, but their see-saw home form can’t inspire much confidence. The Black Whites have won only two of their last six European home fixtures (W2, D2, L2). On top of that, they lament a disastrous historic record against Ukrainian opponents, having lost seven of their 11 previous clashes against such rivals (W2, D1, L8).

As for Dynamo Kyiv, a scintillating first-leg showing will likely prove enough to maintain their dream of securing a group-stage appearance in the Champions League for the first time since 2020/21. No strangers to matches against Serbian clubs, the Ukrainians traditionally relish these occasions, having avoided defeat in all seven previous meetings with Super Liga opponents (W5, D2). Interestingly, all five Dynamo’s wins against Serbian sides have come against Partizan, with each triumph seeing the Blue and Whites score multiple goals. Though they’ve not contested a competitive away game since late May, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s men have excelled on the road in 2024, winning seven of their nine competitive away games (D1, L1).