Dynamo Kyiv vs Universitatea Cluj prediction 09.07.2026 | Europa League

Dynamo Kyiv enters this one on the back of a strong summer preparation phase. The White-Blues are riding a wave of confidence after capping their domestic campaign with four consecutive competitive victories, including a dominant 3-1 triumph against FC Chernihiv to lift the Ukrainian Cup.

Ihor Kostiuk’s men will be eager to translate that clinical momentum onto the European stage, fresh off a sharp 2-0 friendly win over Austrian side LASK.

The focal point of their relentless attack is teenage sensation Matviy Ponomarenko, who spearheads the frontline following a remarkable breakout year where he secured the league’s golden boot with 13 goals in just 15 appearances.

While seasoned veteran Andriy Yarmolenko faces a late fitness test due to a minor muscular strain, the squad is otherwise highly motivated to control the tempo from the opening whistle.

The Red Caps are eager to reboot their competitive sharpness after closing out their domestic campaign with a three-match winless streak, culminating in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Universitatea Craiova in the Cup final.

Cristiano Bergodi’s men have uncharacteristically struggled on their travels recently, losing their last two away games and leaving them winless in four away competitive matches.

The undisputed focal point of their offensive scheme remains Bosnian striker Jovo Lukić, who spearheaded the club's European qualification push by delivering a stunning 18-goal contribution across all competitions last term.

While dynamic playmaker Andrej Fábry remains a permanent absentee following his official summer transfer to Corvinul Hunedoara, Bergodi possesses a determined core ready to fight for a first-leg advantage.