Semin says momentum is with Dynamo

Having held Paris Saint-Germain FC to a goalless draw in France last week, FC Dynamo Kyiv coach Yuri Semin says his well-rested side "are capable of accomplishing even the hardest of missions" in order to book a UEFA Cup semi-final spot.

Defensive understudies 
Dynamo are 90 minutes away from the last four and have the edge in the tie after coming away from the Parc des Princes with a hard-earned 0-0 draw. "I don't agree that we were outplayed in France," said Semin. "We have to improve on the attacking front as we played poorly going forward, yet we defended well." Their back line stood firm under, at times significant, pressure despite being shorn of Taras Mikhalik and Pape Diakhate due to knee injuries, and Goran Sabljić and Ayila Yussuf will once again deputise at a sold-out Valeri Lobanovskiy Stadium.

Vital rest
Semin admits that striker Artem Kravets is unlikely to play on Thursday even though he has recovered from a hamstring injury, but the coach certainly has other options. With Dynamo 15 point clear of possible UEFA Cup semi-final opponents FC Shakhtar Donetsk at the Ukrainian Premier League summit, the 61-year-old was afforded the luxury of selecting a weakened side for Sunday's home game against FC Chornomorets Odesa. Olexandr Shovkovskiy replaced Stanislav Bogush in goal, as Sabljić, Carlos Corrêa, Betão, Roman Eremenko and Badr El Kaddouri were all rested – Dynamo nevertheless won 3-1. "I had to rest some of the lads as it's a hectic period," said Semin. "Everyone who played in Paris has recovered; now we just have to put on a good performance."

Luyindula ready
PSG are also vying for domestic honours but, five points off the pace in Ligue 1, counterpart Paul Le Guen could not afford to take the foot of the pedal at LOSC Lille Métropole on Sunday. The decision to leave Péguy Luyindula, the French side's top scorer in the UEFA Cup with six goals, on the bench was perhaps the only indication of interests elsewhere. "Luyindula is in good condition though he has played a lot recently so I decided to give him a little rest," said Le Guen, who introduced the striker midway through the second half, although he could not conjure the breakthrough in a 0-0 draw. Having been rested at home to Dynamo, Ludovic Giuly and Claude Makelele both started, and the experienced duo are expected to remain in the side in Kiev.

PSG goal 
PSG will be without Mateja Kežman, who has remained in France due to an achilles problem, and though Le Guen has been boosted by the return of left-back Sylvain Armand following his recent knee injury, the coach is not underestimating the size of the task at hand. "I am sure it will be harder for us here than a week ago," he said. "We have to score a goal at all costs or Dynamo will go through. A match with a lot of goals is always good for the fans, but I doubt we'll see many goals on Thursday."