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Dinamo Moskva v Anderlecht preview

RSC Anderlecht head to FC Dinamo Moskva having won just once in six trips to Russia, but a score draw will be enough for the Belgian outfit to reach the last 16.

Dinamo Moskva midfielder Mathieu Valbuena looks to evade Steven Defour in the first leg
Dinamo Moskva midfielder Mathieu Valbuena looks to evade Steven Defour in the first leg ©AFP/Getty Images

FC Dinamo Moskva's run of seven straight UEFA Europa League wins came to an end against RSC Anderlecht in their round of 32 first leg tie, but the Russian club are still well placed to progress.

What they say
Dinamo Moskva coach Stanislav Cherchesov: "The first match ended with 0-0 and the question about the winner is still open. We've not had as tough a run of fixtures as Anderlecht but that's not an advantage. Igor Denisov and Aleksei Ionov are likely to play tomorrow."

Anderlecht coach Besnik Hasi: "0-0 isn't a bad first-leg result because Dinamo didn't manage to score in Belgium. We haven't let in many goals [recently] because we've been using a different defensive system. Dinamo are favourites; perhaps they underestimated us a little for the first leg but we're going to have to raise our game to a very high level to win this."

Previous meetings
• The sides met for the first time in UEFA competition in the first leg, goalkeepers Silvio Proto and Vladimir Gabulov both producing fine displays in a goalless draw. Dinamo's Alexander Büttner was shown a red card with 15 minutes remaining.

Dinamo have won only once in four home games against Belgian clubs (W1 D1 L2); Anderlecht have won only once in six trips to Russia (W1 D1 L4).

Form guide
• The only side to make it through the UEFA Europa League group stage with a 100% record, Dinamo are unbeaten in seven home games in total (W4 D3).

Dinamo last featured in the spring phase of a UEFA competition when they bowed out to SK Rapid Wien in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals.

• Anderlecht have drawn their last three away games in Europe, but they have not won in ten away fixtures (D6 L4) since a 6-0 success at FK Ekranas in 2012/13 UEFA Europa League qualifying.

Dinamo are one of five teams to have advanced from the third qualifying round to the round of 32 along with BSC Young Boys, Club Brugge KV, PSV Eindhoven and Torino FC.

Trivia and links
Dinamo's French midfielder William Vainqueur played alongside Anderlecht's Steven Defour (2011–12) and Cyriac (2011–14) during his time at R. Standard de Liège.

Anderlecht (Belgium) are one of seven reigning domestic champions in the round of 32, along with Legia Warszawa (Poland), Aalborg BK (Denmark), FC Salzburg (Austria), Celtic FC (Scotland), Olympiacos FC (Greece), and AFC Ajax (Netherlands).

Anderlecht (1983) are among 11 former UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League winners in the last 32 along with Tottenham Hotspur FC (1972 and 1984), Liverpool FC (1973, 1976 and 2001), VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach (1974 and 1979), Feyenoord (1975 and 2002), PSV Eindhoven (1978), SSC Napoli (1989), FC Internazionale Milano (1991, 1994 and 1998), Ajax (1992), holders Sevilla FC (2006, 2007 and 2013) and FC Zenit (2008).

The coaches
Dinamo coach since April 2014, Stanislav Cherchesov made his name as a goalkeeper with FC Spartak Moskva, 1. FC Dynamo Dresden and FC Tirol Innsbruck, also playing international football for the Soviet Union, the CIS and Russia. As a player, he claimed three Austrian titles with Tirol, going on to coach FC Wacker Innsbruck along with a number of Russian sides including Spartak.

Anderlecht coach Besnik Hasi was capped 47 times by Albania, but spent the bulk of his playing career in Belgium, winning a championship with KRC Genk in 1998/99 and then three more with Anderlecht. The midfielder returned to Brussels to join Anderlecht's coaching staff in 2008, and took sole command last March, helping steer the club to the Belgian title.

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