Gladbach vs Dinamo Kiev

Borussia Monchengladbach has great tradition, they were finalist in 1977 and semi-finalists a year later. But now they are in the Champions League for the first time. In the last season they finished fourth-place, which meant a Champions League play-off place. Two years earlier they almost relegated, but then they changed their coach (Michael Frontzek left – Lucien Favre arrived), and they began to play well. In the summer they lost the young talent Marco Reus, who went to Dortmund, and one of the best defender of Germany, the brazilian Dante, who went to Bayern Munchen. They got 22 million euro for them, and they spent all. They brought 3 attacker: Luuk de Jong arrived from Twente, Peniel Mlapa from Hoffenheim, and Branimir Hrgota from Jönköping Södra. Midfielder Granit Xhaka also arrived from Basel, while defender Alvaro Domingez left Atletico Madrid to Borussia. Bundesliga is not to start yet, so Monchengladbach have to played friendly games. They’ve played against Birmingham (2-2), 1860 Munchen (4-2), Bochum (4-1), Sevilla (0-0) and Norwich (2-0). Then started the German DFB Pokal, where they played against Alemannia Aachen at away, and won 2-0, so they are unbeaten yet!

 

Dinamo Kiev have big ambitions, because the last season was a huge disaster for them. They lost in the Ukraine Cup, in the Supercup, and in the Championship too, all won by Shakhtar Donetsk. Also they were kicked out from EL-groupstage very early. So Dinamo signed this summer some very good level players like Taye Taiwo (Milan), Miguel Veloso (Genoa), Marco Ruben (Villareal), Raffael (Hertha) and Niko Kranjcar (Tottenham), so a failure in Champions League will make things very complicated them. They have almost a new team, so much money invested in the club. Dynamo Kyiv eliminated Feyenoord with 3-1, winning both match.

 

I watched the former matches od Dinamo, where they not to deserve the victory. Feyenoord played egal, a tie would be justice. But in Rotterdam goalkeeper Maxym Koval was great, and Ideye Brown scored at last seconds of the game. So I think Dinamo is not so convincing, while Monchengladbach played really well during the preparation. Both side have great ambitions, and in my opinion the germans are the favorite of the first leg.