Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv clash with Greek giants PAOK FC at the Motor Lublin Arena in Poland for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Dynamo advance following a dramatic penalty shootout win over Romania's Universitatea, while PAOK open their competitive campaign under new management.

Dynamo Kyiv: Shootout Resilience Amid Defensive Selection Crisis

Ihor Kostyuk's squad controlled long stretches of their opening tie against Universitatea but struggled to find clinical efficiency from open play. While their character shone through in the penalty shootout, facing a technically superior PAOK side demands much higher conversion rates in the final third.

Dynamo's main tactical challenge lies in a severely depleted defensive line. Kostyantyn Vivcharenko faces months on the sidelines, Kristian Bilovar remains doubtful, while Denys Popov, Oleksandr Tymchyk, Mykola Mykhailenko, and Vladyslav Kabayev are all unavailable. On a positive note, Dynamo enjoy familiar surroundings at the Motor Lublin Arena, having won five of their last ten European fixtures played at the venue.

PAOK: High-Octane Offense Masking Backline Vulnerabilities

PAOK open their new season under manager Razvan Lucescu, following the departure of Alessio Lisci. Throughout pre-season, the Greek side maintained a high-pressing, offensive identity—scoring 13 goals across four friendlies—but defensive gaps were repeatedly exploited by top-tier opposition, evidenced by a 2-3 defeat against Twente.

The visitors are undergoing a major frontline reshuffle. Fyodor Chalov faces six months out following surgery, while Giorgos Giakoumakis and Magomed Ozdoyev have departed. Consequently, creative responsibilities fall on Andrija Živković, Christos Tzafiris, Mady Camara, and Aleksandr Yeremeyev.

Key Match Stats & Head-to-Head

• Dynamo Kyiv have won three of their last five nominal home fixtures in European competition.

• PAOK have suffered three defeats in their previous five away matches across all competitions.

• Both teams found the net in six of Dynamo's last ten games and eight of PAOK's last ten.

Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK Prediction

While PAOK possess dangerous attacking weapons, they remain in a transitional phase under Lucescu and display clear defensive vulnerabilities.

Dynamo face selection headaches in defense but hold significant familiarity with their home base in Lublin. Expect an open, end-to-end contest where both sides create quality scoring chances.

Official updates and match statistics can be accessed via UEFA.com.

Match Prediction: Total Goals Over 2.0.