Dynamo Kyiv vs Universitatea Cluj Prediction – 09.07.2026
Dynamo Kyiv faces Universitatea Cluj in the city of Lublin in the first clash of the Europa League’s first qualifying round. As you probably know, because of the ongoing war in Ukraine, this match will be played on a neutral ground in Poland. Are you ready for an important review of this fixture?

Dynamo Kyiv vs Universitatea Cluj Tips
- Dynamo Kyiv to Win;
- Under 2.5 Goals;
Dynamo Kyiv Preview and News
Dynamo Kyiv approach this game with the reputation of a giant club. The Blue & Whites are 17-time champions of Ukraine and 14-time holders of the national cup. Currently coached by the club’s former player Ihor Kostyuk, Dynamo are considered favourites to secure the win against the Romanian side on Thursday.
Most of Dynamo’s players are Ukrainian, but you should keep an eye on the foreigners they have, too. The Nigerian striker Shola Ogundana is ready to use his pace up front while the Romanian forward Vladislav Blanuta is facing his former club, Universitatea Cluj.
Dynamo Kyiv are already used to playing away from home on those European nights. The war in Ukraine is seriously hurting the domestic football clubs, but at the same time, it gives the players even more ambition to do the job. We expect to see Dynamo as motivated as ever against Universitatea Cluj.
Universitatea Cluj Preview and News
Universitatea Cluj managed to qualify for the Europa League after finishing second in the Romanian league last season. This team have never won the league, but this second place could be a sign that the Red Caps are ready for something bigger in the future.
It’s an interesting fact that Universitatea Cluj are currently coached by an Italian manager. This is the 61-year-old tactician Cristiano Bergodi – a coach who used to work for clubs like Steaua, CFR Cluj and Rapid Bucuresti in Romania. As a former centre-back, Bergodi is a manager who pays close attention to defensive performance. We expect to see Universitatea Cluj defending as a unit against Dynamo in Lublin.
The 37-year-old veteran Alexandru Chipciu is the star of this Universitatea Cluj team. A player with 50 games for the Romanian national team, Chipciu is a creative winger who lost his pace with age, but remains a gifted technician with an eye for the goal.
Head-to-Head Matches
This is going to be the first official match between Dynamo Kyiv and Universitatea Cluj in history. These two teams have never met each other in Europe so far.
Dynamo Kyiv vs Universitatea Cluj Betting Preview
Dynamo Kyiv approach this game against Universitatea Cluj as favourites, but they must remain composed – the Romanian teams shall not be underestimated. The Ukrainian side is much more experienced in European competition, but not taking the opponent seriously could be fatal for them. Meanwhile, Universitatea Cluj have the great opportunity to make their name known in European football. Let’s see if they can grab this opportunity!