Dynamo re-energised as AZ arrive

FC Dynamo Kyiv came away from the Netherlands with a 2-1 win on Matchday 3 and will look to put further space between them and the sides outside the qualifying places as the teams meet again in UEFA Europa League Group E.

Previous meetings
• These clubs met for the first time on Matchday 3.

• Prior to that, AZ had won all three of their previous games against Ukrainian opposition; one at home and two away.

• Dynamo's record in 13 games against Dutch teams reads W5 D3 L5 (W3 D2 L1 at home).

Match background
• AZ's loss to Dynamo on Matchday 3 was only their second home defeat in European competition, with the first a 3-1 reverse against Everton FC in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup group stage. Prior to that, they had not lost in 32 continental fixtures at home.

• Dynamo have won only one of their last five European home games, though with a win and two draws, they are unbeaten in the last three ties played at the Valeriy Lobanivskiy Stadium.

• Dynamo have not lost at home in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League since a 3-0 defeat by RSC Anderlecht on 4 November 1992 – 18 years to the day before their meeting with AZ. The eight home games since then have ended in two wins and six draws.

• AZ have gone eight games without a European away win (two draws and six defeats) since a 1-0 UEFA Cup first round triumph at FC Paços de Ferreira on 20 September 2007. They are on a three-game losing streak on their travels.

Team facts
• Dynamo's Ayila Yussuf celebrates his 26th birthday on the day of the match.

• FC Metalist Kharkiv's Taison and Dynamo's Artem Milvekiy have been fouled 15 times in the first three matchdays, more than any other players in the group stage.

• All four of Dynamo's group stage goals this season have been scored before half-time.

• Valeri Gazzaev resigned as Dynamo coach on Friday 1 October, the day after their 2-0 Group E defeat by FC Sheriff in Moldova. Assistant coach Oleh Luzhny, the former Dynamo and Arsenal FC defender, stepped up to replace him on a temporary basis, having previously spent a brief spell in sole command in 2007 following József Szabó's departure.

• AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek was a defender who spent his whole career at SC Heerenveen, barring a season on loan with Heracles Almelo. After retiring, he became Heerenveen assistant coach before striking out alone with Heracles from 2001 to 2004, and then replacing Foppe de Haan at his previous club. In 2008 he was lured to Feyenoord, but fared poorly. However, AZ took him on after a fine 2009/10 season back at Heracles.

• Verbeek competed in the first three UEFA Cup group stage competitions with Heerenveen, qualifying twice but missing out third time around in 2006/07.