Match Preview Benfica vs Dynamo Kyiv

The UEFA Champions League Group-E fixture, S.L. Benfica vs. Dynamo Kyiv, kicks off at 21:00 (GMT+1) on Wednesday, December 8, at the Estádio da Luz. Referee Deniz Aytekin (GER) will have the luxury of officiating the game while Bastian Dankert (GER) will be the VAR.

Preview Benfica Champions League, Dec 8, 2021

Preview The Eagles are coming off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Sporting CP at the weekend in the Portuguese domestic league. Back on European soil, Benfica are in 3rd place with 5 points from 1W, 2D, and 2L in Group E, and must win on Wednesday to increase their chances of going through to the last-16. The Portuguese outfit will also be counting on Bayern Munich to give them a helping hand with a win over Barcelona, who are in 2nd place with 7 points. Benfica had met Barcelona on UCL Matchday 5 in the goalless draw at Camp Nou, leaving the qualification race to go down to the wire, having failed to tie up loose ends on UCL MD5. The club has three victories in five games across all competitions, WWDWL, and manager Jorge Jesus hopes to get down to the business end of things on UCL Matchday 6 and see his side inside the knock-out stage. A 3—4—2—1 formation, with Roman Yaremchuk playing in attack, is expected on Wednesday for this game against Dynamo Kyiv. Rafa Silva, Otamendi, and João Mário will miss the next match if booked. Nemanja Radonjić (muscle injury) is ruled out alongside Diogo Gonçalves, whose last appearance came as a substitute in the 6-1 win at home to Braga on November 7. Lucas Veríssimo (ACL injury) is also out for the season, along with Rodrigo Pinho.

Preview Dynamo Kyiv Champions League, Dec 8, 2021

Preview Dynamo Kyiv picked NK Veres Rivne apart in the 3-0 win over the weekend at the Avanhard Stadium, leaving the Ukrainian side with back-to-back victories ahead of this fixture, LWLWW. Already eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and with a spot in the Europa League out of the question, Kyiv will only be playing for their pride. The club has 1 point from 0W, 1D, and 4L, and will be drawing the curtains on their 2021/22 UEFA Champions League campaign after this appearance against Benfica. Manager Mircea Lucescu could utilize the 4—1—4—1 formation with Denys Harmash in attack for the Ukrainian outfit on Wednesday. Riddled with injuries, the club could be without as many as four players for this game against Benfica. On availability, Ibrahim Kargbo, Artem Besyedin, and Denys Popov are on the list of possible absentees, while Vladyslav Supriaga is set to return. If booked, Denys Harmash will miss the next match.