Preview: Dynamo Kiev vs Maccabi Tel Aviv - prediction, team news, lineups

Facing a two-goal deficit, Dynamo Kiev require a famous comeback to prevail in their Europa League playoff with Maccabi Tel Aviv, which concludes on Thursday evening.

Dynamo suffered a 3-1 defeat last week, so hopes of returning to the league phase all rest on winning well at their adopted home, Arena Lublin.

Match preview

In a playoff tie where neither team will play on home turf, Dynamo travelled to TSC Arena in Backa Topola last week, aiming to set themselves up for success over two legs.

However, the Ukrainian giants trailed within 12 minutes, before Nazar Voloshyn equalised. When Kostiantyn Vivcharenko was sent off early in the second half, they collapsed, conceding twice to leave themselves a mountain to climb in Poland.

The Blue and Whites, who were defeated by Maccabi Tel Aviv's conquerors Pafos in the third round of Champions League qualifying, have already slipped down to the Europa League, and they now face a further drop to UEFA's third-tier tournament.

Failure to turn things around will see Dynamo enter the Conference League, one year on from featuring in the revamped Europa League, when they won just one of eight games and were eliminated in the league phase.

Head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi - the Kyiv club's goalkeeper during their 1990s-2000s heyday - may have led his team to three straight wins in Ukraine's Premier League this term, but they will require at least a two-goal success on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Maccabi have it all to lose following victory in Serbia, where captain Dor Peretz bagged a brace to swing the tie in their favour.

His 69th-minute strike came soon after Sagiv Yehezkel had put the Yellows back in front, taking full advantage of Dynamo going down to 10 men.

After winning the Liga ha'Al last term, they lost to Pafos in the second round of Champions League qualifying earlier this summer, but entering the Europa League would prove a very satisfactory consolation.

Maccabi made light work of Maltese minnows Hamrun Spartans in round three, with a 5-2 aggregate success, before putting one foot in the league phase by beating Dynamo.

Adding their recent Toto Cup triumph over Hapoel Jerusalem into the mix, Zarko Lazetic's side have now won four straight games across all competitions, so they will be confident of getting the job done in Lublin.

Dynamo Kiev Europa League form: L

Dynamo Kiev form (all competitions): W L W L W L

Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League form: W W W

Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions): D L W W W W

Team News

Both teams were able to rest at the weekend, given time off from their respective domestic duties to prepare for this second leg, so neither side is expected to make many changes.

Dynamo will have to make an enforced switch at left-back, though, as Kostiantyn Vivcharenko must serve a suspension for his costly red card last week.

The Ukrainian champions usually field a three-man front line featuring veteran winger Andriy Yarmolenko, with Vladyslav Vanat set to spearhead their attack.

Meanwhile, Maccabi should select either Elad Madmon, Dor Turgeman or Ion Nicolaescu up front - the latter signed in June, after a successful spell at Heerenveen.

Goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury, so Roi Mashpati will continue between the posts.

Following their goals in the first leg, Dor Peretz and Sagiv Yehezkel are set to start in midfield.

Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup: Neshcheret; Karavayev, Bilovar, Mykhavko, Dubinchak; Pikhalyonok, Mykhaylenko, Shaparenko; Yarmolenko, Vanat, Voloshyn

Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup: Mishpati; Asante, Stojic, Shlomo, Revivo; Davida, Peretz, Sissokho, Shahar, Jehezkel; Madmon