Kirilo Nesterenko leads his "Oleksandriya" squad to a crucial second-leg match against "Partizan" Belgrade, needing to overcome a two-goal deficit to keep their European dreams alive. The Ukrainian side travels to Serbia for Thursday's Conference League qualifier after losing 2:0 in the first encounter despite dominating possession statistics.
"We're not going to Belgrade as victims – we're a team with a mission," Nesterenko likely told his players before departing for Serbia.
Partizan Belgrade enters the match with substantial pressure despite their advantage. The Serbian club risks missing European competition for the second consecutive season if they stumble at home. Their recent European record isn't particularly impressive – they've been eliminated by AEK Larnaca, Dynamo Kyiv, and Gent in previous qualification campaigns.
Interestingly, while the Serbian side boasts attacking prowess that proved decisive in the first leg, their defense remains questionable. This vulnerability could give the Ukrainian visitors a fighting chance, especially if they maintain the attacking momentum shown in the first match where they registered 20 shots compared to Partizan's 13.
The atmosphere at Partizan Stadium will undoubtedly play a factor. A capacity crowd is expected with no away supporters present – a challenging environment that could either intimidate the Ukrainians or potentially motivate them further, particularly if any unfavorable incidents occur.
"Oleksandriya" underwent significant changes during the off-season, including appointing Nesterenko as head coach and losing several key players. Despite these challenges, they've maintained tactical discipline and attacking intent. Now they need to convert that possession into goals – something they failed to do in the first match despite controlling 59% of the ball and earning 11 corner kicks.
By the way, bookmakers heavily favor the home side, with "Partizan" at 1.93 odds compared to 3.50 for "Oleksandriya" and 3.60 for a draw.
Can the Ukrainian underdogs overcome both the scoreline deficit and the hostile Belgrade atmosphere? Thursday's clash will tell if Nesterenko's men have what it takes to stage an unlikely comeback.
