Universitatea Cluj
Dynamo Kyiv
>Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv Predictions, Picks & Odds – 16/07/2026
Europa League · 1st Qualifying RoundUniversitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv – Best bets of the match
Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv Preview
Universitatea Cluj return home knowing they rode their luck in the first leg, where goalkeeper Neofytos Michael produced a heroic display to keep the tie goalless. Manager Cristiano Bergodi openly admitted his side were fortunate to escape with a draw. There are fitness concerns over Gabriel Simion and Florent Poulolo, both withdrawn before half-time in Sunday's Super Cup defeat to Universitatea Craiova. Cluj must show far greater attacking ambition here, having mustered just three shots in the reverse fixture.
Dynamo Kyiv will feel aggrieved after dominating the first leg so thoroughly, firing 25 shots and holding 63% possession without reward. Manager Ihor Kostiuk pointed to poor finishing as the key issue, with only five of those efforts hitting the target. The Ukrainian side carry significant European pedigree and are desperate to avoid consecutive early Europa League exits. Their meticulous preparation, combining tactical meetings with structured training sessions before travelling to Cluj-Napoca, underlines the seriousness of their intent.
Dynamo Kyiv's first-leg performance tells the real story here. They fired 25 shots compared to Cluj's meagre three, held 63% possession, and created enough chances to have wrapped up the tie. Manager Ihor Kostiuk will demand better finishing, and only five shots on target from 25 attempts suggests the quality of chances will improve with sharper execution.
Cluj manager Cristiano Bergodi openly admitted his side were fortunate to escape with a draw. Fitness concerns linger too, with Gabriel Simion and Florent Poulolo both being assessed after early withdrawals in the Super Cup loss. Cluj must show far greater attacking ambition at home, but opening up could leave them exposed against Kyiv's superior technical quality.
The draw or away double chance represents the strongest value in this fixture. Dynamo's underlying numbers from the first leg were overwhelming, and regression to the mean favours them converting those chances this time. The away win at 1.70 carries appeal, while under 2.5 goals at N/A also merits consideration given the first leg's pattern. Odds correct at time of publication.
Trends to Know about Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv
- Dynamo Kyiv fired 25 shots in first leg
- Cluj managed only three attempts in reverse fixture
- Kyiv held 63% possession in opening match
Form & Statistics: Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv
Universitatea Cluj
Recent form
Season statistics (1)
Dynamo Kyiv
Recent form
Season statistics (1)
Lineups: Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv
Universitatea Cluj
Starters
- 1 Mihai
- 2 Kipciu
- 3 Koubis
- 4 Cristia
- 5 Stanoev
- 6 Drammeh
- 7 Codrea
- 8 Bik
- 9 Mendy
- 10 Stefanescu
- 11 Makalu
Bench
- Lefter
- Coșa
- Trică
- Nistor
- Adams
- Pedro Pinho
- Chukwu
- Aliev
- Techereș
Absent
- Alin Chinteș (injury)
- Virgiliu Postolachi (suspended)
- Alessandro Murgia (suspended)
- Andrei Artean (injury)
- Taiwo Olakunle (suspended)
- Tobias Horn (suspended)
- M. Moraru (suspended)
- I. Barstan (suspended)
- Miguel Silva (suspended)
- Jovo Lukic (suspended)
- Jonathan Cissé (suspended)
- Dino Mikanovic (injury)
- Gabriel Simion (injury)
- Denis Moldovan (suspended)
- Elio Capradossi (suspended)
- Andrei Gheorghiță (suspended)
Dynamo Kyiv
Starters
- 1 Neshcheret
- 2 Dubinchak
- 3 Mikhavko
- 4 Bilovar
- 5 Kedziora
- 6 Shaparenko
- 7 Brazhko
- 8 Pikhalenok
- 9 Redushko
- 10 Ponomarenko
- 11 Voloshyn
Bench
- Olkhovyi
- Surkis
- Vivcharenko
- Korobov
- Rubchynskyi
- Ogundana
- Gusiev
- Malysh
- Buyalskyi
- Guerrero
- Thiare
- Herych
Absent
- Denys Popov (injury)
- Vitaliy Lobko (injury)
- Mykola Mykhaylenko (injury)
- Reshat Ramadani (injury)
- Vladyslav Kabaev (injury)
- Benito (suspended)
- Roman Salenko (injury)
- Vladyslav Zakharchenko (injury)
- Osypenko (surgery)
- Zakharchenko (surgery)
- Popov (injury)
- Justin Lonwijk (minor injury)
- Vladyslav Kabaiev (recovering from previous injuries)
- Oleksandr Tymchyk (recovering from previous injuries)
Medium confidence
A 4-2-3-1 against a 4-3-3 shapes this Europa League qualifier into a classic midfield battle. Universitatea Cluj will look to compact the central lanes with their double pivot, while Shaparenko anchors Dynamo Kyiv's three-man engine room and drives the visitors' rhythm in transition.
Both lineups carry probable status from consistent sourcing, so the tactical picture is reasonably clear ahead of kickoff. Cluj's narrow structure behind the attacking trio invites pressure on the flanks, precisely where Dynamo's wide forwards in the 4-3-3 will seek to exploit space and create overloads.
Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv: Head-to-Head
Average statistics (recent meetings)
How to Watch Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv Match?
What time is Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv?
This Europa League second leg kicks off on Wednesday, 16 July 2026 at 18:30 local time.
Where is Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv being played?
The venue for this second leg is yet to be confirmed, with an official announcement expected closer to matchday.
How Can I Watch Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv on TV and Live Stream?
Broadcast details for Universitatea Cluj vs Dynamo Kyiv will be confirmed closer to kickoff. Odds correct at time of publication.