Champions League preview and odds: Dynamo Kyiv vs. Chelsea

Published on: 18/10/2015

Champions League preview and odds: Dynamo Kyiv vs. Chelsea

October 20, 2015 19:45pm NSC Olimpiyskiy

Champions League

Chelsea were favourites to win Group G before a ball had been kicked but after losing in Portugal last time out, they now find themselves playing catch-up behind Porto and this weeks tricky opponents from Ukraine.

Chelsea looking for boost in Ukraine

Chelsea face a tough test when they travel to Kyiv on Tuesday to take on the Group G leaders. After comfortably beating Maccabi 4-0 in their opening game at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinhos men were undone by Porto in game week two to leave them third in the group with four left to play.

Chelsea have yet to win a competitive European game in Ukraine having lost 2-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk in their only previous visit three years ago. That campaign ended with failure to progress from the group stages and the Blues will be hoping to avoid a similar scenario this term.

Jose Mourinhos team has been under-performing in their domestic campaign, but a win against struggling Aston Villa at the weekend means that they can travel to Ukraine in a positive frame of mind.

The Portuguese boss still has aspirations to become the first Coach to win the elite European trophy with three different clubs and a win on Tuesday would help to keep that dream alive.

Dynamo looking to maintain advantage

After a hard-fought 2-2 draw at home to Porto in the first game week, the Ukrainians earned all three points in Tel-Aviv last time out to take an early lead in the group. They have a strong record on home soil having registered just one defeat in their last 10 European games at the NSC Stadium.

The last visitors from England were Everton who went down by five goals to two in last seasons Europa League round of 16. They have contested 15 Champions League group stage campaigns but have yet to progress to the knockout stages.

They go into this game on the back on a 0-3 league defeat to rivals Shakhtar Donetsk. As a result of that loss, they dropped to second place in their domestic campaign.

Team news

The home side are without Younes Belhanda, Mykyta Burda, Yevhen Makarenko, Serhiy Myakushko and Lukasz Teodorczyk who are all injured.

Meanwhile Chelsea are still missing first choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Recent form (All competitions)

Dynamo Kyiv: LWWWW

Chelsea: WLLDW

Betting odds and tips

Chelsea will be favourites, but only just. They are still not back to their clinical best and their opponents will be keen to take advantage of their current fragility.

The home side have some injury issues but should still be able to field a strong First XI, they held Porto to a 2-2 draw and there is no reason why they cannot earn a point against the faltering English champions. The draw can be backed at 12/5 with Betvictor or you can back the draw with Both Teams to Score at 37/10 with 888sport.

Published on: 18/10/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (18/10/2015 14:25:17) but are subject to change.