The Ukrainian soccer record champions Dynamo Kyiv can dream of entering the group stage of the Champions League.
Dynamo drew 0-0 with Fenerbahce Istanbul in the first leg of the second qualifying round on Wednesday night.
For Kyiv it was the first competitive game since the start of the Russian war of aggression. Because of the uncertain situation around the capital, the game was played at the Miejski Stadium in Lodz, Poland.
The second leg takes place next Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) at the Turkish runners-up in Istanbul, the third qualifying round begins on August 2nd. Dynamo played their last competitive game 221 days earlier.
Since the beginning of the war and the associated termination of the league, Kyiv had kept fit with a few test and benefit games – such as in April at Borussia Dortmund or about a week ago against Olympique Lyon.
The competitive game premiere is considered the beginning of the restart in Ukrainian football. The league is scheduled to restart on August 23 despite the ongoing war attacks.