Kyiv's Dynamo has successfully overcome the first serious hurdle on the path to the main tournament of the 2026/2027 Europa League season. After a tense two-legged tie against Romanian Universitatea Cluj, which was decided in a penalty shootout, the Ukrainian club continued its fight in European competitions.
Next opponent and match schedule
The second qualifying round will be a test of strength for the "white and blues." The opponent for the Kyiv team will be the Greek club PAOK. The matches for this stage are scheduled for the end of July. According to the regulations, the first match will be played by the Kyiv team as nominal home team, while the return leg will be played away.
The stakes in this pair are high. Victory on aggregate guarantees advancement to the third qualifying round of the Europa League. In case of defeat, the team will automatically move to the equivalent stage of the Conference League.
History of confrontation and tactical advantages
Dynamo and PAOK already have a history of head-to-head meetings, although it dates back to the last century. In the 1976/1977 season, the teams met in the Round of 16 of the European Champions' Cup. Back then, the Kyiv team was stronger twice, crushing the opponents with scores of 4:0 and 2:0.
However, this time the Ukrainian club has a unique advantage that could play a key role in preparing for the matches. Dynamo defender Kostiantyn Vivcharenko, sharing his emotions after the victory over the Romanians, pointed out the importance of the experience of one of his teammates.
"We have a former PAOK player who will surely advise on how to play against them," noted Vivcharenko.
We are talking about Polish defender Tomasz Kędziora. Between 2023 and 2026, he defended the colors of the club from Thessaloniki, and this summer officially returned to the Kyiv Dynamo squad. His knowledge of the opponent's tactics and style of play could become a decisive factor.
Prospects for the third round
Events are developing rapidly: even before the start of the matches against the Greeks, on July 20, the draw for the third qualifying round of the Europa League will take place. Thanks to the high rating, the winner of the Dynamo - PAOK pair will have the status of a seeded team.
Among the potential opponents in the next stage are the winners of other pairs in the second qualifying round of the EL, as well as clubs eliminated from the Champions League qualifying. The list of likely opponents includes such teams as Belgian Anderlecht, Croatian Hajduk, Cypriot Paphos, Austrian Sturm, and Turkish Fenerbahce.
