Dynamo Kyiv 2-3 PAOK: UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round Match Report

Dynamo Kyiv 2-3 PAOK at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Stadium leaves the Ukrainian side with work to do in the UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round, as PAOK convert a dominant first-hour performance into a narrow but valuable away win. With no league standings context available, the significance is framed entirely by the tie: Dynamo now travel to Greece needing to overturn a one-goal deficit, while PAOK carry both the result and the psychological edge from a three-goal haul in Kyiv.

Match Report

The game exploded into life almost immediately. In the 3rd minute, Dynamo Kyiv struck first: 3' Dynamo Kyiv goal — V. Brazhko (unassisted). The midfielder capitalised on an early opening to give the hosts a 1-0 lead and briefly tilt the tie in their favour.

PAOK responded with composure and quality. In the 13th minute, they levelled: 13' PAOK goal — G. Konstantelias (assisted by A. Zivkovic). A sharp combination in the final third allowed Konstantelias to find space and finish, restoring parity at 1-1 and immediately puncturing Dynamo’s early momentum.

Just a minute later, PAOK made their first personnel move: 14' Taison replaced T. Ali (PAOK), an early tactical adjustment from Alessio Lisci, likely aimed at adding greater control and ball-carrying threat in the attacking midfield zone.

PAOK’s bench influence was followed by a booking on the touchline. In the 28th minute, 28' A. Lisci (PAOK) — yellow card (no reason specified), with the head coach cautioned, underlining the intensity and protest levels from the visitors’ technical area.

The Greek side then completed the first-half turnaround. In the 38th minute, 38' PAOK goal — C. Zafeiris (unassisted). The midfielder’s solo effort pushed PAOK 2-1 up, reflecting their growing control of territory and tempo as the half wore on.

Dynamo emerged from the interval needing a response but instead collected a caution. Right after the restart, 46' M. Ponomarenko (Dynamo Kyiv) — yellow card (Tripping), signalling an aggressive attempt to disrupt PAOK’s build-up early in the second half.

PAOK then landed what looked like a potentially decisive blow. In the 51st minute, 51' PAOK goal — B. Santamaria (assisted by G. Konstantelias). A well-timed run and composed finish from Santamaria, fed by Konstantelias, stretched the lead to 3-1 and rewarded PAOK’s superior structure between the lines.

Chasing the game, Dynamo turned to their bench in the 55th minute with a double change to inject fresh legs and creativity: 55' J. Lonwijk replaced O. Pikhalyonok (Dynamo Kyiv), and 55' B. Redushko replaced N. Voloshyn (Dynamo Kyiv). The switches aimed to add more verticality and ball progression from midfield.

PAOK’s defensive line then came under disciplinary scrutiny. In the 57th minute, 57' P. Hatzidiakos (PAOK) — yellow card (Holding), punished for a grappling intervention to halt a Dynamo attack. Six minutes later, their creative hub was also booked: 63' G. Konstantelias (PAOK) — yellow card (Tripping), reflecting Dynamo’s increased pressure and PAOK’s need to break up transitions.

Dynamo continued to reconfigure their midfield and attacking structure in the 68th minute with another double substitution: 68' V. Buyalskyy replaced M. Shaparenko (Dynamo Kyiv), and 68' A. Yarmolenko replaced E. Guerrero (Dynamo Kyiv). The introduction of Buyalskyy and Yarmolenko signalled a clear shift towards experienced, high-impact profiles to chase the deficit.

The changes paid off. In the 77th minute, Dynamo halved the arrears: 77' Dynamo Kyiv goal — J. Lonwijk (assisted by V. Buyalskyy). The two substitutes combined, with Buyalskyy providing the assist and Lonwijk finishing to make it 2-3, reigniting the contest and the tie.

Almost simultaneously, PAOK refreshed their forward line: 77' A. Jeremejeff replaced A. Mythou (PAOK), adding a more traditional focal point up front to hold the ball and relieve pressure. They also altered their midfield core at the same minute: 77' M. Camara replaced C. Zafeiris (PAOK), a move likely aimed at shoring up central areas and protecting the lead.

As Dynamo pushed, PAOK continued to rotate in search of defensive stability and counter-attacking threat. In the 83rd minute, they made another double change: 83' D. Chatsidis replaced A. Zivkovic (PAOK), and 83' A. Elustondo replaced P. Hatzidiakos (PAOK), refreshing both wide and central defensive roles to cope with mounting pressure.

Dynamo used their final substitution in the 85th minute to add further energy in midfield: 85' V. Rubchynskyi replaced V. Brazhko (Dynamo Kyiv), removing the early goalscorer in favour of fresh legs for the closing stages.

PAOK’s substitute striker then found his way into the referee’s book late on. In the 88th minute, 88' A. Jeremejeff (PAOK) — yellow card (Tripping), as the visitors increasingly resorted to tactical fouls to disrupt Dynamo’s late surges. Despite sustained home pressure, there were no further goals, and PAOK closed out a 3-2 away victory.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

xG: not available vs not available
Possession: not available vs not available
Shots on Target: not available vs not available
Goalkeeper Saves: not available vs not available

With no quantitative data on xG, possession, or shooting volume, the tactical reading must lean on the pattern of goals and substitutions. PAOK’s three goals, spread across the first 51 minutes, underline how effectively they exploited central pockets and transitional moments, particularly through G. Konstantelias, who produced a goal and an assist. Their early substitution of Taison and later introduction of M. Camara suggest a planned progression from proactive attacking to a more conservative, control-oriented setup once 3-1 ahead. Dynamo’s response was structurally reactive: a series of midfield and attacking changes around the 55–68 minute window that eventually produced a well-crafted second goal via two substitutes. The late-game flow, combined with multiple PAOK bookings, indicates that Dynamo carried territorial and emotional momentum in the final phase, but PAOK’s compactness and game management were sufficient to preserve the one-goal margin.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

Formal league standings and pre-match points for both Dynamo Kyiv and PAOK are not available, so the impact is best understood in the context of the UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round tie itself. PAOK leave Kyiv with a one-goal aggregate advantage and three away goals, a psychologically significant platform ahead of the return leg. Dynamo, despite scoring twice at home and showing late improvement, now face the strategic challenge of balancing defensive security with the need to chase at least one goal in Greece. The narrow 2-3 defeat keeps the tie alive but shifts the pressure decisively onto the Ukrainian side for the second match.

Lineups & Personnel

Dynamo Kyiv Starting XI

GK: Ruslan Neshcheret
DF: Tomasz Kędziora, Kristian Bilovar, Taras Mykhavko, Vladyslav Dubinchak
MF: Oleksandr Pikhalyonok, Volodymyr Brazhko, Mykola Shaparenko, Nazar Voloshyn
FW: Matvii Ponomarenko, Eduardo Guerrero

PAOK Starting XI

GK: Jiří Pavlenka
DF: Jonjoe Kenny, Pantelis Hatzidiakos, Giannis Michailidis, Jonathan Gómez
MF: Baptiste Santamaria, Christos Zafeiris, Andrija Živković, Giannis Konstantelias, Taha Abdi Ali
FW: Anestis Mythou

Post-Match Verdict

PAOK delivered a clinically effective attacking performance in the first hour, converting territorial and positional superiority into three goals, with G. Konstantelias central to their creativity. Their early and mid-game substitutions were tactically coherent, first adding offensive craft through Taison, then later reinforcing midfield solidity with M. Camara and rotating defenders to withstand late pressure. Dynamo Kyiv’s display was mixed: vulnerable in defensive organisation during the first half and early second period, yet tactically improved once J. Lonwijk, B. Redushko, V. Buyalskyy and A. Yarmolenko entered, culminating in a well-constructed second goal. The 2-3 scoreline reflects PAOK’s sharper exploitation of key phases and Dynamo’s delayed but credible response; for the return leg, Dynamo must tighten their defensive structure while replicating the more dynamic, substitution-driven attacking patterns that emerged in the final quarter of this match.