Dynamo Kyiv vs. Girondins de Bordeaux
In a match where both teams seemed to possess the same kind of strength, one would never really know what the end-result would be with the way things were going. I think that both teams were equally strong in their own areas; Bordeaux were just as strong in defense as Kyiv were in attack; hence the draw. Statistic-wise, however, Bordeaux were overpowered by far! Kyiv had a total of 17 attempts, whereas Bordeaux had 5. No players were sent off during this game although 4 yellow card were picked between the two teams (3 for the home team and 1 to the Frenchmen).
Oleh Blokhin and Francis Gillot lined up the following squads:
Dynamo Kyiv Starting XI:
Koval, Mikhalik (c), Taiwo, Khacheridi, Vida, Miguel Veloso, Yarmolenko, Haruna, Bezus, Kranjcar, Mehmedi
Subs: Boyko, Selin, Vukojevic, Bogdanov, Garmash, Gusev, and Marco Ruben
Bordeaux Starting XI:
Carraso, Henrique, Sane, Planus, Tremoulinas, Faubert, Sertic, Plasil (c), Obraniak, Maurice-Belay, Bellion
Subs: Keita, Marange, Ben Khalfallah, Poundje, Rolan, Saivet, and Poko
Final Score: Dynamo Kyiv 1-1 Girondins de Bordeaux
Haruna 20′, Obraniak 23′
VfB Stuttgart vs. KRC Genk
It was a long night for Genk fans at the VfB Arenat on February 14th, as they had to watch their team play against a very strong Stuttgart side (that seemed to overpower them for most of the match). Their break came only in stoppage time, when they finally managed to get the away goal they so much needed. Statistic-wise, the home side had double the number of attempts than the away side, i.e. 14 against 7. Both teams had an equal number of good chances (2). Stuttgart’s Sven Ulreich made 3 saves less on the night than his Genk counterpart, Koteles (who had to make 6). No Genk players were booked during this match. Stuttgart, however, picked up three bookings. No players were sent off during this match.
Bruno Labbadia and Mario Been lined up the following squads:
Stuttgart Starting XI:
Ulreich, Sakai, Tasci (c), Niedermeier, Boka, Kvist, Gentner, Tunay Torun, Harnik, Traore, Ibisevic
Subs: Ziegler, Felipe Lopes, Rudiger, Macheda, Holzhauser, Okazaki, and Maxim
Genk Starting XI:
Koteles, Tshimanga, Koulibaly, Ngongca, Simaeys, Hyland, Buffel, Kumordzi, Barda, De Ceulaer, Vossen (c)
Subs: Van Hout, Hamalainen, Nadson, Dani Fernandez, Joseph-Monrose, Gorius, and Plet
Final Score: VfB Stuttgart 1-1 KRC Genk
Gentner 42′, Plet 90+1′
Written by Ange Marline