On Thursday, July 17, Dynamo Kyiv will play the second leg of the first qualifying round of the 2026/27 Europa League against Romanian side Universitatea Cluj. The first match, held in Lublin, Poland, ended in a goalless draw, so the outcome of the tie will be decided on the opponent's turf.
Where and when to watch the match
The second leg will kick off at 20:30 Kyiv time. The game will take place in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca at the Cluj Arena, which has a capacity of 30,200 spectators.
The match will be broadcast live on the 2+2 TV channel. It will also be available for viewing on the online platforms of the Kyivstar TV and MEGOGO media services.
Referee team and background
The 38-year-old Welsh referee Ivan Griffith has been appointed as the main referee for the match.
The first match between the rivals, which took place in Lublin, Poland, and was nominally a home game for Dynamo, ended in a 0-0 draw. The Kyivans completely dominated the game, taking 24 shots on goal, but only 5 were on target, leaving many questions regarding their finishing.
In the run-up to the second leg, the teams played important friendly matches. Dynamo played a friendly against local side Radomiak in Poland, securing a convincing 4-2 victory. The hero of the match was captain Vitaliy Buyalsky, who scored a brace. Shola Ogundana and Vladyslav Herych also scored.
Universitatea, meanwhile, had a crucial official duel for the Romanian Super Cup against Craiova. Regular time ended in a 1-1 draw (Alibek Aliev scored for the Cluj team), but the Kyivans' opponent lost 3-5 in the penalty shootout.
Expected lineup changes
Fans and experts expect significant changes in the starting lineup for the Kyivans. In particular, Vitaliy Buyalsky, who sat on the bench in the first leg and only came on late in the game, may now appear on the field from the first minute instead of Oleksandr Pykhalenko.
Shola Ogundana could also appear on the attacking flank instead of Nazar Voloshyn. Meanwhile, star veteran Andriy Yarmolenko and French newcomer Pierre Mungenge, according to preliminary information, are not yet ready to play a full, high-intensity match at this level.
What's next?
A loss in the two-legged tie will not be fatal for either side. The loser will continue their European campaign in a different tournament.
The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the second qualifying round of the Europa League, where they will play against Greek side PAOK. The losing team will move to the second qualifying round of the Conference League, where they will face Norwegian side Brann.
