Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk welcome record-breaking Club Brugge to Ukraine on Thursday with a view to qualifying for their first ever European semi-final.
Both sides drew 0-0 in Belgium last week in a result that saw the Belgians extend their 10-match unbeaten run to 11 - a Europa League record.
Dnipro
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The Ukrainian outfit have already made club history this season by reaching a maiden quarter-final in this competition, but failing to grab an away goal in Brugge last week may just be a watershed moment in the tie and spell the end of their European adventures for another season.
It has been a campaign littered with positives overall for Dnipro, who squeezed through a group comprising Inter Milan, Qarabag FK and Saint Etienne to advance in second place behind the Italian giants.
Being paired alongside Olympiacos - who had been eliminated from the Champions League - in the last 32 promised a greater test, but Myron Markevych's side came through it unscathed, winning the first leg 2-0 in Ukraine before advancing 4-2 on aggregate.
It represented a result that will have done wonders for their belief following a narrow group-stage progression, yet Dnipro then penned a fresh chapter in the club's European annals by eliminating Ajax and reaching a first European quarter-final in 25 years.
Roman Zozulya netted the only goal as they secured a 1-0 first-leg win in Ukraine, before losing by the same scoreline in Amsterdam to force extra time.
There, the impressive Yevheniy Konoplyanka struck on 97 minutes to grab a precious away goal and render Mike van der Hoorn's late strike little more than a consolation as they bowed out on away goals.
Their home form in the knockout stages has played a leading role in getting them this far, and Markevych will call on his charges to pull another win out of the bag on Thursday as club history awaits.
Recent form: WWDWLD
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDDW
Club Brugge
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On Thursday, the Belgians will look to put 23 years of continental disappointment behind them - and few would back against them achieving it. Michel Preud'homme's charges travel to Ukraine hoping to prolong their European adventure by reaching a first European semi-final since 1992, where a last-four defeat to Werder Bremen cost them a place in the Cup Winners Cup final.
Brugge are better equipped this time around, however, as they bring a competition-record 11-game unbeaten run with them. Preud'homme's side are yet to lose in this season's edition of the tournament, from the opening game of the group stage until now.
It is nearly 10 months since they set out on the road to the quarters, as Brugge kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 win over Brondby in July before advancing with a 5-0 aggregate victory to reach the final qualification round, where they edged out Grasshoppers 3-1 over both legs.
They topped Group B ahead of Torino, HJK Helsinki and FC Copenhagen, before returning to the two-legged format with aplomb by annihilating Aalborg 6-1 on aggregate to reach the last 16.
Their sternest test awaited after being paired with Besiktas, who lost the first leg 2-1 in Belgium but an away goal meant that the tie was far from over.
Furthermore, they fell behind in the return leg in Istanbul as they stared down the barrel of defeat for the first time, but three goals in the final half-hour saw them flip the tie on its head and progress.
It is that resilience which will breed confidence in their preparation for Dnipro and the Belgian giants will be fearing nothing in Ukraine on Thursday.
Recent form: WWWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWWLDW
Team News
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Valeriy Fedorchuk, who started last week's stalemate, will miss the visit of Brugge through suspension.
Zozulya, Ondrej Mazuch, Egidio and Bjorn Engels are also expected to miss out through injury, while Matheus is rated as doubtful to participate.
The Belgians are not without their worries either as Felipe Gedoz, Thomas Meunier, Oscar Duarte and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo are also doubtful.
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk possible starting lineup:
Boyko, Fedetskiy, Silva Bacelar, Cheberyachko, de Matos Cruz, Luchkevich, Kankava,Konoplyanka, Shakov, Rotan, Kalinic
Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Ryan, de Fauw, Simons, Mechele, De Bock, Vormer, Silva, Vazquez, Refaelov, Oulare, Izquierdo
Head To Head
Last Thursday's draw was only the side's second ever meeting in competitive action, with Dnipro triumphing 3-2 in a UEFA Cup group-stage clash back in 2004.
We say: Dnipro 1-0 Club Brugge
Dnipro's home form has proved instrumental in getting them to this stage, and we reckon another big performance on home soil is coming on Thursday to narrowly eliminate the Belgian giants.
Shane Callaghan
