Prediction: Dynamo Kyiv vs RB Salzburg

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Two sides who will be looking to claim a crucial first-leg advantage on Wednesday night, Dynamo Kyiv and RB Salzburg will meet at the Arena Lublin in Poland.

Dynamo Kyiv

Starting with the hosts, while Dynamo Kyiv might have once again fell short last season in the chase to reclaim their domestic crown, the Ukrainian heavyweights have come flying out of the traps since opening up the new campaign. Making a real statement over in Scotland last week as they secured a 3-1 aggregate victory against Rangers, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s men should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they secured a routine 3-1 win away at Karpaty Lviv, Kyiv have won all of their previous three appearances across all competitions and are yet to suffer a single defeat since getting the 2024/25 campaign underway. Appearing to have found a real clinical edge in the final third, Shovkovskyi’s side will know the importance of claiming a first-leg advantage in midweek.

Team News

Handed a full rest against Karpaty Lviv over the weekend, Ukraine international Denys Popov will make a full return on Wednesday night and partner 19-year-old Taras Mykhavko at the heart of Kyiv’s defence. Ahead of their first-leg showdown, Shovkovsky has no fresh injury concerns to worry about.

Now finding the net in three of his previous four appearances across all competitions, former West Ham star Andriy Yarmolenko will spearhead Kyiv’s charge in midweek.

RB Salzburg

As for the visitors, making the decision to appoint new boss Pepijn Lijnders over the summer, RB Salzburg appear to be enjoying life under the former Liverpool coach. Extending on their respective Champions League qualifying adventure last week as they secured an action-packed 5-3 aggregate victory against Dutch outfit Twente, the Red Bulls have come flying out of the traps since opening up the 2024/25 campaign. Winning all of their first three Bundesliga appearances, Salzburg have rightfully received plenty of plaudits. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they clinched a 1-0 win away at LASK, Lijnders’ men will be relishing a trip over to Poland on Wednesday night. Already recording 20 goals across all formats since getting the new campaign underway, the Red Bulls are pencilled in as a standout contender here.

Team News

Still dealing with a long-term thigh injury continuing on from last season and failing to make a single appearance across any competition since the start of April, Salzburg will be without Brazilian midfielder Fernando on Wednesday night. However, aside from the former Palmeiras starlet, Lijnders’ squad have reported a clean bill of health.

While Liverpool starlet Bobby Clark might be set to arrive for a reported fee in the region of £10million, the 19-year-old will not be signed in time to feature here. Now finding the net in each of his previous three appearances across all competitions, the red-hot Moussa Kounfolo Yeo will spearhead Salzburg’s charge.

Key Factors to Consider

• Wednesday’s showdown at the Arena Lublin will be the first competitive meeting between Dynamo Kyiv and RB Salzburg.
• Including a stellar 2-0 victory away at Scottish giants Rangers last week, Kyiv have won all of their previous three appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 7-2.
• Salzburg are unbeaten in all of their first six appearances across all competition since opening up the 2024/25 campaign.
• The Red Bulls have seen four of their previous five matchups finish with both teams finding the net.
• Continuing on from their pre-season preparations, Kyiv have recorded just a pair of clean sheets from any of their previous seven appearances.

Conclusion

Two camps who be looking to pick up their own respective first-leg advantages on Tuesday night, we could be treated to an enjoyable showdown from the Arena Lublin. While Kyiv might have extended on their Champions League qualifying adventure last week thanks to a stellar 3-1 aggregate win, Salzburg will certainly offer a real test here. However, it should be noted, with the Red Bulls seeing four of their previous five appearances across all competitions finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome in midweek.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Dachbet