On Tuesday, August 6, FC Dynamo Kyiv will play the 2024/2025 Champions League 3rd qualifying round first leg. The White-Blues will host the Scottish side Rangers FC in Lublin, Poland.
2023/2024 SEASON
- Dynamo finished second in the domestic league with two points behind the champions. The White-Blues won 22 games out of 22, drew three times and lost five (goal difference – 72:28).
As for the national cup, Dynamo tumbled out in the round of 16 against FC Obolon Kyiv (0:1).
In the Europa Conference League Kyivans outplayed the Greek side Aris (0:1, 2:1, won on penalties), but lost against Besiktas in the decisive round (2:3, 0:1).
- Rangers finished second in the Scottish league wi0th 8 points behind Celtic. They won 27 games out of 38, drew 4 and lost 7 times (goal difference – 87:32). The leading goalscorer of the team was… right back James Tavernier with 17 goals and 10 assists to his name.
In the national cup, Rangers reached the final where they suffered narrow defeat against Celtic by conceding the only goal in the 90th minute.
Still they didn’t finish the season trophyless. Rangers beat Hearts in the League Cup final – 1:0.
As for euro cups, Rangers didn’t qualify for the Champions League by losing against PSV after which they got out of the Europa League group, but tumbled out against Benfica on the round of 16.
LINEUP CHANGES
Dynamo
In: Oleksandr Pikhalionok, Valentyn Rubchynskyi (both – Dnipro-1), Maksym Braharu (Chornomorets), Brayan Ceballos (Fortaleza, loan move), Aleksandre Peikrishvili (Dinamo Tbilisi), Justin Lonwijk (Fortuna Sittard, back from loan move), Mykola Mykhailenko (Oleksandria, back from loan move).
Out: Oleksandr Syrota (Maccabi Haifa), Benito (Zoria, loan move).
Rangers
In: Mohamed Diomande (midfielder, Nordsjaelland), Robin Propper (center back, Twente), Hamza Igamane (forward, AS FAR), Jefte (left back Fluminense), Connor Barron (midfielder, Aberdeen), Liam Kelly (goalkeeper, Motherwell), Clinton Nsiala (center back, Milan), Vaclav Cerny (right winger, Wolfsburg, loan move), Ianis Hagi (attacking midfielder, Alaves, back from loan move).
Out: Sam Lammers (forward, Utrecht), John Lundstram (supporting midfielder, Trabzonspor), Borna Barisic (left back, Trabzonspor), Connor Goldson (center back, Aris Limassol), Robby McCrorie (goalkeeper, Kilmarnock), Fabio Silva (forward, Wolverhampton, back from loan move), Ryan Jack (midfielder), Kemar Roofe (forward), John McLaughlin (goalkeeper).
2024 PRE-SEASON
While getting ready for the season Dynamo played five friendlies – against Paderborn 07 (0:0), Schalke 04 (2:2) Brondby (4:0), Mamelodi Sundowns (1:0) and Union berlin (2:3).
Meanwhile Rangers played four friendlies against top leagues representative and didn’t win a single one – defeats against Ajax (1:2), Manchester United (0:2) and Birmingham (1:2), a draw against Union Berlin (4:4).
2024/2025 season start
Dynamo haven’t start the domestic league campaign yet, so the qualifiers against FK Partizan Belgrade were the White-Blues’ first official games of the season. As you know, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s men beat Partizan twice – 6:2 in Lublin and 3:0 in Belgrade.
Rangers start their euro cups campaign with the third qualifying round. Besides, they’ve played the first domestic league game of the season – against Hearts away (0:0).
TECHNICAL DATA
FC Dynamo Kyiv – Rangers FC
August 6, 21:00, Arena Lublin
Broadcasting by 2+2, Dynamo Kyiv YouTube.
OFFICIALS
Referee – Donatas Rumsas (LTU)
Assistant referees – Aleksandr Radius (LTU), Dovydas Suziedllis (LTU)
Fourth official – Robertas Smitas (LTU)
Video Assistant Referee – Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee – Tomasz Musial (POL)
UEFA referee observer – Emil Bozinovskyi (MKD)
UEFA delegate – Phivos Konstantinidis (CYP)
FACE TO FACE
Dynamo and rangers have faced each other in euro cups only once. This happened in 1987/1988 season as Dynamo opposed Rangers in the Champions’ Cup round of 32. Kyivans won 1:0 at home, but suffered 2:0 defeat away.
