Maccabi seek improvement against Dynamo Kyiv
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Article summary
Slaviša Jokanović says Maccabi Tel-Aviv will put up a good fight against injury-hit Dynamo Kyiv as the Israeli champions host their first group game in 11 years.
Article top media content
Article body
- Slaviša Jokanović says Maccabi will be more competitive this time
- Maccabi were soundly beaten by Chelsea on matchday one, when Dynamo held Porto
- Maccabi's first home game in UEFA Champions League proper for 11 years
- The hosts' top scorer Eran Zahavi is five matches without a goal
- The sides drew twice when they met in the UEFA Europa League in 2011
Possible lineups
Maccabi: Rajković; Shpungin, Ben Haim I, Tibi, Ben Harush; Rikan, Alberman, Mitrović, Miha, Ben Haim II; Zahavi.
Out: Igiebor (knee)
Doubtful: Radonjić (knee)
Dynamo: Shovkovskiy; Danilo Silva, Dragovic, Khacheridi, Antunes; Rybalka, Veloso, Garmash, Gusev, Yarmolenko; Kravets.
Out: Belhanda (stomach), Teodorczyk (leg), Makarenko (Achilles), Burda (unspecified), Myakushko (unspecified)
Slaviša Jokanović, Maccabi coach
What happened at Stamford Bridge is history. I expect we will be more competitive against Kyiv and we have to believe in ourselves. Would a draw be a good result? It depends how the game unfolds. Anything could happen and we need to be ready.
It's a good match for us, we have picked up confidence [since matchday one]. This competition is not a question of this or that player, it's about the whole team. We will try to do our best.
Serhiy Rebrov, Dynamo coach
They are in the Champions League on merit. Porto have players sitting on the bench of a quality that Maccabi do not have on the pitch. Still, they have a good base and over the last few games we have analysed them and seen how good they are.
We need to be attacking and to get into the box, that's the key. Chelsea did it and we should do too. I really like Zahavi, he is an important part of their team. I cannot say I would take him to Kyiv but I like the way he plays.
Weekend results
Maccabi Haifa 0-2 Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Ben Basat 82, Dor Peretz 90)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv moved to within two points of leaders Maccabi Petach-Tikva after a win at the bottom club, the goals coming in the last eight minutes.
Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 Hoverla Uzhhorod (Kravets 33, Gusev 60)
Dynamo remain three points clear of Shakhtar at the Ukrainian summit after stretching their unbeaten league run to 37 games since April 2014.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Maccabi: WLLDWD
Dynamo: WWWDWD
Did you know?
Oleh Gusev has fond memories of facing Maccabi; find out why in our extensive match background.