Crystal Palace and Dynamo Kyiv Face Off in Lublin, Poland

Lublin, Poland — Crystal Palace will make their debut in a European competition on Thursday night against Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv at the Motor Lublin Arena. The match is significant as it is taking place in Poland due to the ongoing conflict resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This meeting is part of the UEFA Conference League, a league phase Crystal Palace is entering after a successful FA Cup run last season, wherein they secured a spot for European play. The game will kick off at 17:45 BST (18:45 CEST) and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3.

According to UEFA regulations, all matches involving Ukrainian teams have been required to take place at neutral venues since February 2022. Consequently, Dynamo Kyiv has hosted their home European fixtures in various countries, including Poland, Slovakia, and Germany, among others.

The Motor Lublin Arena, which became Dynamo’s home for European matches after the invasion, has a capacity of 15,247 spectators. It is a temporary solution amid the disruptions caused by the war.

Football in Ukraine continues to face challenges, as domestic matches have seen attendance drop to around half of what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion. Despite this, Dynamo Kyiv’s domestic league games are still played in their homeland.

Crystal Palace enters this match with an 18-game unbeaten streak. They will look to extend that record against Dynamo, who currently also face injury challenges, including the absence of Samba Diallo and Denys Popov. Despite these setbacks, manager Oleksandr Shovkovskyi expects to have a largely fit squad available for the match.

The anticipation for this fixture extends beyond just sports, as the ongoing situation highlights the resilience of Ukrainian teams amid adversity. The unity in hosting events and matches illustrates a broader support system for Ukrainian football.

As European football returns to Lublin, the stakes are high for both teams, and fans will be eager to witness this historic encounter.