Champions League
2006-07-26 - Metalurgs Liepaja vs Dynamo Kyiv
A Sports Betting Pick by Jason & Trogdor
Metalurgs Leipaja
Metalurgs have a decent Lithuanian coach and many Lithuanian players in the squad. They are a very good team by the Latvian standards.
However they start every game in the season as favorites and they simply don't know what is it to play defensively and defend in numbers.
Obviously, to get something in the game against Dynamo, you need to apply a counter attacking style. And while Metalurgs have quick legs in midfield and upfront, their defence is the weakest link.
Actually last year they give a good game in Liepaja to Belgium side Genk and only lost 2-3 (this was UEFA Cup). The away game brought less luck and 0-3 loss.
This year in the first round of Champions League qualifying they met with Kazachstan's Actobe. Before the first leg I was amazed when I saw the odds. Metalurgs was priced at 1.28!
However the game was absolutely balanced with chances created by both sides. In the end Liepaja secured a 1-0 lead, and managed to get 1-1 draw away at Kazachstan after conceding first.
Dynamo Kyiv
I think there is no need to say much about Dynamo Kyiv. You all know this team. I saw their first game in Ukranian championship and I like what I saw.
They started this year campaign quite strongly defeating Shaktar Donetsk, last years champion 2-0 in the Ukrainian Super Cup match and won 4-1 against Chornomorets, the bronze medalist.
Everything is going for Dynamo at the moment, with half of the team (7 Ukrainian players) coming from World Cup in high spirits. The only potential future problem (shouldn't be a case yet) is that 3 central defenders got hurt in past 2 weeks and it will take them some time to recover.
THE VERDICT
I don't expect Dynamo to trash Metalurgs away, but a solid 2-0 win is on the cards as young and unexperienced in euro cups Metallurg's defence are no match to Dynamo forwards.
The Pick :
Metalurgs Leipaja 0-2 Dynamo Kyiv
