| The Romanians achieved an excellent tournament result in the first match, holding a goalless draw as a symbolic guest. The home advantage and the support of the Cluj Arena will be their main weapons. They are expected to play cautiously, relying on a solid defense and counterattacks. Dinamo Kiev are the more experienced team in Europe and come in as favorites on paper, but their lack of game practice and the fact that they are not playing at home evens out the forces. Dinamo will try to impose control over the midfield through players like Vitaliy Buyalskyi and Oleksandr Pikhalyonok to decide the match in regular time. We could expect a slow tempo. No one will want to make the first mistake after a 0-0 draw in the first leg. Cluj will close the spaces. The battle in the midfield will be fierce. If Dinamo fails to break through the Romanian wall by the end of the first half the hosts will be in better position to progress. After all players from the bench could be decisive for the game. Since the away goal rule does not apply, any draw leads to extra time and penalties. |
