Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
For Dynamo Kyiv, this match offers a chance to redeem themselves after a dismal showing in the current Europa League campaign. Viktoria Plzeň, however, are in fine form and have the opportunity to secure their second consecutive victory in the tournament, especially as the Kyiv side currently pose little threat.
Dynamo Kyiv
Dynamo Kyiv are struggling in the tournament, suffering four consecutive defeats. Over these matches, the team failed to score a single goal and conceded ten. One of the main issues for the Kyiv side is their lack of creativity in attack and poor conversion of chances, with a mere 1.9 xG over four games. While they face few challenges in their domestic league with no losses and a top position, they find it tough against even mid-level opponents in the Europa League.
Viktoria Plzeň
In contrast, Viktoria Plzeň are performing confidently and have not lost a single match in the tournament, including the qualifying rounds. This season, the Czech team have played eight Europa League matches and scored in seven of them. On average, they net 1.75 goals per game and utilise their opportunities efficiently, with seven goals from an xG of 5.3. In previous rounds, Viktoria Plzeň have shown great resilience, with a last-minute victory over Real Sociedad (2:1) and an impressive comeback against Eintracht Frankfurt (3:3), equalising twice late in the game.
Dynamo Kyiv vs Viktoria Plzeň Prediction
Given Dynamo Kyiv’s poor form and Viktoria Plzeň’s excellent conversion rate, the visitors appear to be clear favourites. The Ukrainian club consistently concede goals, even against opponents not in top form. The Czech side are likely to score 2-3 goals and comfortably secure three points.
