Kyiv Dynamo has determined its next opponent in the European campaign for the 2026/2027 season. After being eliminated from the Europa League by Greek side PAOK, the "white-and-blues" will continue their fight in the third qualifying round of the Conference League, where they will face Azerbaijani club Qarabag.
How the opponent was determined
The potential opponent for the Kyiv team was decided in the clash between Bulgarian CSKA and Azerbaijani Qarabag. Both matches between these teams in the second qualifying round of the Europa League ended with a scoreless draw of 0:0, and the fate of the ticket was decided in a penalty shootout. The Bulgarians proved to be more accurate in the football lottery (5:4), so it was the Azerbaijani giant that dropped into the Conference League to face Dynamo.
Experience and level of the opponent
For Igor Kostyuk's charges, this will be a serious test. Last season, Qarabag competed in the Champions League group stage, where they earned 10 points and advanced to the play-off stage. This speaks to the high level of preparation of the Azerbaijani club and its ability to compete with strong European teams.
Match schedule
The matches of the third qualifying round will take place on August 6 and 13. According to the regulations, Dynamo will play the first match as nominal hosts in Lublin, Poland. The return match will be held in Baku. Thus, the Kyiv team will have to not only show their level of play but also adapt to the conditions of different stadiums and climatic zones.
What's next?
If the Kyiv team loses to Qarabag, they will definitively end their participation in the 2026/27 European campaign. In case of success – they will advance to the Conference League play-off round, where they will compete for a spot in the main stage of the tournament. The Kyiv team will learn their potential opponent in the CL play-off round on Monday, August 3, when the draw for this stage will take place.
Earlier, the head coach of Kyiv Dynamo named the main reason for the defeat against PAOK in the Europa League. This analysis will help the team adjust their tactics and improve their game before the upcoming matches against Qarabag.
