All-conquering Dynamo Kiev face Fiorentina in Europa League
Dynamo Kiev, 7/5 with Coral to take the spoils from this Europa League quarter-final first leg, are dangerous once again under former Tottenham forward Serhiy Rebrov.
Having dispatched Everton with ease last time out, the Kiev-based club are 13/8 to qualify for the semi-finals, but must first find a way past Serie A side Fiorentina, who are odds-on at 1/2 in the same market.
Shakhtar Donetsk academy product Rebrov has steered his side seven points clear of his boyhood club to lead the Ukrainian Premier League. With a domestic double on the horizon, Dynamo now have their eyes on European glory and are 11/5 to end the first leg on even terms.
Unbeaten on home turf in continental competition this campaign, and top tournament scorers with 22 in 10 outings, Kiev are a fantastic 13/8 to net two or more against Vincenzo Montella’s men.
Without doubt, Dynamo’s main man in attack is Andriy Yarmolenko. The Ukraine wingman has hit 15 across all competitions, including four in Europe, and is 6/1 to strike first, or 9/1 to bag a brace or better.
Teaming up with the apparent Premier League target will likely be tricky Morocco midfielder Younes Belhanda (3/1 in the anytime market) and Dutch wideman Jeremain Lens (5/2), who has seven for the season so far. Meanwhile, striker Artem Kravets struck last time out in the league and is 13/2 to fire home the final goal.
Defence has, however, been a problem for Dynamo, who have conceded eight in their last four European duels, despite boasting Austria international Aleksander Dragovic.
Visiting Viola, meanwhile, have never lost to their hosts in four clashes, and are a tempting 2/1 to triumph in this tussle, after seeing off the likes of Roma and Spurs to make it this far.
The Tuscan team have, however, failed to find the net in their past two outings across all competitions, so manager Montella will be eager to see a response. The Florence-based tactician told press after a recent defeat to Napoli: “What does worry me is their mental state, as over the last five or six days I’ve seen a different team. I don’t like this team and it’s up to me to give them a different motivation and spur them on to change tack.”
Top Viola scorer Khouma Babacar (14/5 to grab a goal anytime) is an injury doubt, while German target man Mario Gomez is back in-form and 6/1 to have the final say.
Chelsea-owned Mohamed Salah also has seven strikes in just 14 appearances for Viola, so is 13/5 to continue his purple patch anytime, or a scintillating 7/1 to open proceedings.
