Dyn. Kyiv vs RFS prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-29 20:00.
[p]There could hardly be a bigger contrast between how Dynamo Kyiv have performed domestically and in Europe this season. The Blue and Whites sit top of the Ukrainian Premier League, in which they are undefeated in 2024/25, but they have endured a miserable campaign in the UEFA Europa League (UEL), finally picking up their first point of the competition (L6) by drawing 3-3 with Galatasaray last week.[/p]
[p]It is therefore no surprise that Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s side, who have conceded a competition-high 18 goals this season, sit bottom of the table. History suggests that they’re unlikely to move from there, given that they have not won a UEL match since February 2021 (D2, L13), and they worryingly do not have any recent domestic form to fall back on either, as the winter break in Ukraine means that Dynamo have not played a league game since mid-December.[/p]
[p]They will have no excuses for rustiness against opponents RFS though, as the visitors’ only three competitive matches over the last two months have come in this competition. The lack of regular recent fixtures did not stop the Latvian side from registering a historic 1-0 UEL success over Ajax last week however – their first-ever win at this stage in Europe.[/p]
[p]Prior to that, Viktors Morozs’ men had picked up two points from six attempts (D2, L4), so hopes of qualifying for the play-offs have gone, although at least they know they can no longer finish bottom of the table. Supporters making the long trip south-west to Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion may be forgiven for being pessimistic however, as RFS have lost eight of their last 11 away encounters in European football inside 90 minutes (W3), including each of their three league phase fixtures this campaign.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Former West Ham United man Andriy Yarmolenko, enjoying his second spell at Dynamo Kyiv, has netted first or last in five of his six goalscoring appearances this season. Adam Markhiyev grabbed the RFS winner against Ajax and has now been victorious in the last eight games in which he has netted.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Dynamo Kyiv have only scored one first-half goal in their last eight UEL outings.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]