Home: Dynamo Kiev
- FC Dynamo Kiev should have much too quality, squad depth and home advantage for FC Rukh Lviv to take anything from Friday’s Premier League 2025-2026 fixture in the Ukrainian capital.
- Dynamo are 4th on the Ukrainian Premier League table after 16 games played and 26 points earned and will be keen to begin the 2026 campaign with a win to close the gap on the top three and Champions League playoff spots.
- Oleksandr Karavayev has been their most productive player this season, driving his side from the right-hand side in a 4-3-3 system and contributing goals and assists.
- Nazar Voloshyn is another creative and prolific option in midfield, while Oleksandr Pikhalionok is the engine in the center of the pitch, providing ball progression and goals.
- Dynamo Kiev have won all five of their friendly games during the winter break, scoring 20 goals.
Away: Rukh Lviv
- Rukh Lviv, on the other hand, set up in compact, formationally flexible systems and play a patient game.
- Ivan Fedyk likes to frustrate opponents with tight, organised blocks and strike on the break.
- They finished the autumn strongly, winning four of their final five competitive league games, including back-to-back 1-0 victories.
- With 19 points from 16 games, Rukh Lviv sit 10th in the table and will be looking to improve their position and climb into the top half this season to avoid getting drawn into a relegation struggle.
- Top scorer Baboucarr Faal leads the line and will be a constant threat on the turn, particularly if the game is played on a slippery pitch as could happen on a cold Kyiv night.
Head-to-Head
Dynamo Kiev have won every league and cup meeting with FC Rukh Lviv to date, including a 5-1 victory away from home in August 2025.
Key Players
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Dynamo
- Oleksandr Karavayev has been their most productive player this season, driving his side from the right-hand side in a 4-3-3 system and contributing goals and assists.
- Nazar Voloshyn is another creative and prolific option in midfield, while Oleksandr Pikhalionok is the engine in the center of the pitch, providing ball progression and goals.
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Rukh
- Vitaliy Kholod is the leader of Rukh’s resilient backline, while Vasyl Runich has been a constant link between midfield and attack providing assists.
- Baboucarr Faal is the top scorer and will be a constant threat on the counter.
Betting Insights
- The bookies make Dynamo 1.38 favourite for this game and Rukh 7.9 underdogs with the odds for a draw at a crazy 4.69.
- Dynamo’s win odds are short, but we think there’s enough value in the 1.75 on the Over 2.5 goals market for the home side to smash through.
Prediction
A 2-0 or 2-1 Dynamo win is the most likely outcome, but Rukh are tough to beat and could get a draw if they stay compact and Fedyk’s tactics work for them on the night.
