MX23RW : Sunday, November 10 17:22:23| >> :600:14892142:14892142:
[monks data]
Europa League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 23, 2015 at 8.05pm UK
 
Club Brugge

1-0

Shakhov (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk vs. Club Brugge

Sports Mole previews Dnipro's Europa League visit of Club Brugge as the hosts look to secure a first ever semi-final berth in European competition.

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk welcome record-breaking Club Brugge to Ukraine on Thursday with a view to qualifying for their first ever European semi-final.

Both sides drew 0-0 in Belgium last week in a result that saw the Belgians extend their 10-match unbeaten run to 11 - a Europa League record.



Dnipro

FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk players react after scoring a goal against AFC Ajax during their Europa League Round of 16 match in Kiev on March 12, 2015© Getty Images

The Ukrainian outfit have already made club history this season by reaching a maiden quarter-final in this competition, but failing to grab an away goal in Brugge last week may just be a watershed moment in the tie and spell the end of their European adventures for another season.

It has been a campaign littered with positives overall for Dnipro, who squeezed through a group comprising Inter Milan, Qarabag FK and Saint Etienne to advance in second place behind the Italian giants.

Being paired alongside Olympiacos - who had been eliminated from the Champions League - in the last 32 promised a greater test, but Myron Markevych's side came through it unscathed, winning the first leg 2-0 in Ukraine before advancing 4-2 on aggregate.

It represented a result that will have done wonders for their belief following a narrow group-stage progression, yet Dnipro then penned a fresh chapter in the club's European annals by eliminating Ajax and reaching a first European quarter-final in 25 years.

Roman Zozulya netted the only goal as they secured a 1-0 first-leg win in Ukraine, before losing by the same scoreline in Amsterdam to force extra time.

There, the impressive Yevheniy Konoplyanka struck on 97 minutes to grab a precious away goal and render Mike van der Hoorn's late strike little more than a consolation as they bowed out on away goals.

Their home form in the knockout stages has played a leading role in getting them this far, and Markevych will call on his charges to pull another win out of the bag on Thursday as club history awaits.

Recent form: WWDWLD
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDDW



Club Brugge

Brugge's defender Davy De Fauw (L) vies with Dnipro's Dutch defender Daryl Janmaat (R) during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final football match between Club Brugge and Dnipro at Jan Breydel stadium in Bruges on April 16, 2015© Getty Images

On Thursday, the Belgians will look to put 23 years of continental disappointment behind them - and few would back against them achieving it. Michel Preud'homme's charges travel to Ukraine hoping to prolong their European adventure by reaching a first European semi-final since 1992, where a last-four defeat to Werder Bremen cost them a place in the Cup Winners Cup final.

Brugge are better equipped this time around, however, as they bring a competition-record 11-game unbeaten run with them. Preud'homme's side are yet to lose in this season's edition of the tournament, from the opening game of the group stage until now.

It is nearly 10 months since they set out on the road to the quarters, as Brugge kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 win over Brondby in July before advancing with a 5-0 aggregate victory to reach the final qualification round, where they edged out Grasshoppers 3-1 over both legs.

They topped Group B ahead of Torino, HJK Helsinki and FC Copenhagen, before returning to the two-legged format with aplomb by annihilating Aalborg 6-1 on aggregate to reach the last 16.

Their sternest test awaited after being paired with Besiktas, who lost the first leg 2-1 in Belgium but an away goal meant that the tie was far from over.

Furthermore, they fell behind in the return leg in Istanbul as they stared down the barrel of defeat for the first time, but three goals in the final half-hour saw them flip the tie on its head and progress.

It is that resilience which will breed confidence in their preparation for Dnipro and the Belgian giants will be fearing nothing in Ukraine on Thursday.

Recent form: WWWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWWLDW



Team News

Brugge's Belgian forward Tom De Sutter heads the ball with Besiktas' Turkish forward Mustafa Pektemek during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 football match between Club Brugge and Besiktas at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul on March 19, 2015© Getty Images

Valeriy Fedorchuk, who started last week's stalemate, will miss the visit of Brugge through suspension.

Zozulya, Ondrej Mazuch, Egidio and Bjorn Engels are also expected to miss out through injury, while Matheus is rated as doubtful to participate.

The Belgians are not without their worries either as Felipe Gedoz, Thomas Meunier, Oscar Duarte and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo are also doubtful.

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk possible starting lineup:
Boyko, Fedetskiy, Silva Bacelar, Cheberyachko, de Matos Cruz, Luchkevich, Kankava,Konoplyanka, Shakov, Rotan, Kalinic

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Ryan, de Fauw, Simons, Mechele, De Bock, Vormer, Silva, Vazquez, Refaelov, Oulare, Izquierdo



Head To Head

Last Thursday's draw was only the side's second ever meeting in competitive action, with Dnipro triumphing 3-2 in a UEFA Cup group-stage clash back in 2004.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Dnipro 1-0 Club Brugge

Dnipro's home form has proved instrumental in getting them to this stage, and we reckon another big performance on home soil is coming on Thursday to narrowly eliminate the Belgian giants.



ID:218452: cacheID:218452:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10543:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ajax's head coach Frank de Boer gestures during the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Celtic and Ajax at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 22, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Ajax vs. Dnipro
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
2.30pm
Giants
@
Panthers
6pm
Patriots
@
Bears
6pm
49ers
@
Buccaneers
6pm
Broncos
@
Chiefs
6pm
Bills
@
Colts
6pm
Vikings
@
Jags
6pm
Falcons
@
Saints
6pm
Steelers
@
Washington
9.05pm
Titans
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Jets
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Eagles
@
Cowboys
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio440012
2Ajax431010
3Anderlecht431010
4Frankfurt431010
5Galatasaray431010
6Spurs43019
7FCSB43019
8Lyon42117
9Rangers42117
10Olympiacos42117
11Bodo/Glimt42117
12Midtjylland42117
13Ferencvaros42026
14Man Utd41306
15Plzen41306
16AZ42026
17Besiktas42026
18Hoffenheim41215
19Roma41215
20Fenerbahce41215
21Elfsborg41124
22Braga41124
23Porto41124
24Slavia Prague41124
25Real Sociedad41124
26Malmo41033
27FC Twente40313
28Qarabag41033
29Union SG40222
30Nice40222
31RFS40222
32Ludogorets40131
33PAOK40131
34Athletic Club00000
35M. Tel Aviv40040
36Dynamo Kiev40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!