Let’s focus on two players, whose opposition may be decisive in the future game.
Miguel Veloso: experience may be vital
Veloso’s transfer from Genoa CFC to FC Dynamo Kyiv was a real sensation. The Portuguese midfielder adapted to the new team quickly.
Unlike his opponent Fernandinho, Miguel plays more for defense than for attack. Veloso scores rarely, but his goals are very spectacular. This season he has scored three times.
Veloso’s main trumps are good vision of the pitch and straight pass.
In the future game against Shakhtar Miguel and his teammates are to neutralize Fernandinho and Henrikh Mkhitaryan first of all. The task is not easy, but Veloso has a great experience of playing against even more skillful opponents…
This season Miguel has made 28 appearances for Dynamo (17 in Ukrainian Premier League, 1 in Ukrainian Cup, 10 in euro cups) and 8 for Portugal national team. He has scored 3 goals (2 in UPL, 1 in euro cups).
Fernandinho: significant person
Fernandinho moved to Ukraine in 2005. In Brazil he played for Atletico Paranaense. It took him about two years to adapt to Lucescu’s requirements.
Brazilian halfback is a key player in Shakhtar’s tactics. He plays well both as supporting and attacking midfielder.
Fernandinho has a good shot from distance. He is very technically skillful. His Achilles' heel is intemperate character.
Fernandinho took the field against Dynamo Kyiv 26 times and scored four goals. Two in the Ukrainian Cup, one in Ukrainian Super Cup and one in the UEFA Cup 2008/09 semifinal.
This season Fernandinho made 30 appearances (19 in UPL, 2 in Ukrainian Cup, 1 in Ukrainian Super Cup, 8 in the UEFA Champions League).
Veloso – Fernandinho opposition statistics
Veloso and Fernandinho have already faced each other on the pitch four times! Once in UPL, once in Ukrainian Cup and twice in the UEFA Champions League as Veloso played for Sporting Lisbon (2008/09 season).
Veloso won two out of four games (both playing for Sporting), just like Fernandinho. Miguel was booked once; Fernandinho scored one goal and got two bookings.
Their attitude to the future game
Miguel Veloso:
“One particular player is not the point. The point is that Shakhtar are a very well organized team. Each game is like the final one for us. We must win every match to finish second this season”.
Fernandinho:
“I hope we’ll win as the result of this game is important for us. Dynamo will do their best to defeat Shakhtar, so we must do our best to win in Kyiv”.
