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UEFA Cup Preview: Hibernian FC v Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk [Thu Sep 15th, 2005]
Scottish side Hibs open their first European campaign for four years with a tough tie against largely unknown Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
BACKGROUND
Hibs will be anxious to give their fans a good European run this season as this is only their second European adventure since 1992. Their last outing ended with 4-3 aggregate defeat to AEK Athens in the UEFA Cup first round in 2001.
Of the 5 teams they could have faced, Dnipro were probably the last team Tony Mowbray’s men wanted. Sampdoria, Basel, Feyenoord and Seville were all possible opponents but now the Edinburgh side must make the long and potentially dangerous trip to the unknown.
Hibs, who received a bye to the first round of this year’s competition, have never faced Ukrainian opposition in European competition before.
Dnipro have a decent European pedigree and this will be their 13th European campaign. This will the 3rd season in a row they have contested in the UEFA Cup, having reached the last 32 in their last 2 outings. They even topped their section in the group stage last year.
Armenian club Banants were disposed of in the qualifying round 8-2 on aggregate.
Dnipro have twice played in the European Cup reaching the quarter-finals in 1984/85 and 1989/90. Their only visit to Scotland was in season 1990/91 when they were beaten by Hearts in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
CURRENT FORM
Hibs currently lie joint second in the SPL having won their last 4 league games.
Dnipro, by contrast, are struggling in the Ukrainian league and have lost 3 of their last 5 matches. They are down in 12th position just 4 points above bottom side Zakarpattya.
TEAM NEWS
Hibs
Skipper Gary Caldwell could make his long-awaited return to the team, having missed the last 6 weeks with cracked ribs. Ivan Sproule could be in line for his first start of the season, having scored 4 goals in his last 2 games after coming off the bench.
FC Dnipro
Coach Evgeniy Kucherevskiy has said his side are decimated with injuries, with as many 6 first-teamers possibly missing for tonight’s clash.
Thomas O’Sullivan
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