Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv have played in the group stage of the Champions League for the last four seasons in a row and will attempt to get past the challenge of Ajax in the playoff stage to make it five times in a row. Last season the White-Blues were placed in a tough group that had Rubin Kazan, Barcelona and eventual European champions Inter and couldn't claw their way out of the first round.
Last season's runners-up in the Ukrainian Premier League, Dynamo reached the playoff round in the Champions League with a 6-1 aggregate win against KAA Gent of Belgium in the third qualifying round. It proved to an easy two-legged affair for Valery Gazzayev's side but they should expect a tougher time against Dutch giants and former European champions Ajax.
Dynamo will go into the first-leg as favourites as they have quite a strong home record. The 13-time Ukrainian champions are going great guns in the domestic arena too as they are within touching distance of the top spot after six rounds of matches in the league.
The Sleeping Giants
While Dynamo Kyiv are on the brink of reaching the Champions League proper for the fifth successive season, Ajax have yet to feature in Europe's most premier club competition for five years and have not confronted a Ukrainian side before. The four-time European champions have not won Dutch league since 2004 and have gone astray as far as dominating Europe is concerned.
However, de Godenzonen are now on the brink of qualification for the group stage of this season's Champions League. Manager Martin Jol will perhaps feel a bit relieved that the first leg is away from home in Ukraine and will know only too well that an away goal will be very crucial for the second leg in Amsterdam.
Interestingly, Jol's future at the club is still wrapped up in uncertainty as despite fending off the interest of Premier League club Fulham earlier in the summer, Ajax may now have to keep the former Tottenham Hotspur manager from the clutches of Aston Villa.
Nevertheless, both Jol and his players will be focused on the job at hand and will attempt to get at least a goal in the first-leg. Ajax do have a very strong team and with Luis Suarez available for the first-leg, the Dutch powerhouse will be hopeful.
TEAM NEWS
Dynamo Kyiv
Andriy Shevchenko will again be the key player for Dynamo as his vision and touches will be vital. Quite an attacking side, Dynamo do have to see that they maintain discipline at the back against Ajax.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Boyko, Danilo Silva, Betao, Mikhalik; Garmash, Vukojevic, Magrao, Eremenko; Milevskiy, Shevchenko, Yarmolenko
Ajax
Striker Luis Suarez is available for the Champions League playoff game on Tuesday and he will be a massive boost Ajax. No major changes are expected to be made in the lineup by coach Martin Jol.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Anita; Lindgren, de Jong, de Zeeuw, Emanuelson; Suarez, Sulejmani
Prediction
Dynamo should consider themselves slight favourites but they have to maintain discipline at the back. Ajax scored three times against PAOK away from home in the second-leg of their third qualifying round and have goals in them, and in all likelihood will be able to sneak in a goal.
Dynamo 2-1 Ajax
