Former Dynamo Kyiv and Ukrainian national team midfielder Oleksandr Aliev has dismissed rumours that Dnipro-1 are refusing to take second place in the current Ukrainian Premier League season to compete in the Europa League. Aliev said in an interview with YouTube channel FanDay.net that he believed the rumours were “complete nonsense”. Dnipro-1 lost out on the chance to win the league title after losing to Shakhtar Donetsk in the 29th round, but are fighting it out with Zorya for second place, which would allow them to start in the Champions League qualifiers.
Former Dynamo Kyiv and Ukrainian national team midfielder Oleksandr Aliev commented on rumors about Dnipro-1’s refusal to take second place in the current UPL season.
Dnipro-1 lost the chance for the league title after losing the away match of the 29th round of the Ukrainian Premier League against Shakhtar Donetsk (0:3).
Oleksandr Kucher’s side continue to fight without Zorya for second place, which will allow them to start in the Champions League qualifiers. However, there are rumors that Dnipro may have deliberately lost to Kryvbas in the round of 30 to finish third and qualify for the Europa League.
- Read also: Dnipro-1 is fighting for the championship, but now it risks not getting into the Champions League: in which hands Zarya can be the second
The fact is that the Ukrainian runners-up could be left without a European competition group stage if they lose three consecutive qualifying rounds in each tournament. The UPL bronze medalists, if they do not reach the Europa League group stage, are guaranteed to play at the same level of the Conference League.
The former midfielder of Dynamo and the national team of Ukraine Oleksandr Aliev is skeptical about the information that Dnipro-1 does not want to qualify for the Champions League, which he discussed in an exclusive interview with YouTube channel FanDay.net.
“I don’t think Dnepr-1 will lose. The Champions League is a more prestigious tournament than the Europa League. All footballers want to play in the national team and the Champions League. I think it is [слухи о нежелании Днепра-1 занять второе место] complete nonsense,” said Aliyev.
- Dnipro-1 has played 29 matches, scored 64 points and is second in the Ukrainian Premier League standings, ahead of Zorya only as a result of individual meetings.
- To qualify for Champions League qualification, Dnipro needs to score at least as many points in the match against Kryvbas as Luhansk will score in the match with Minai.
- All matches of the final round of the Ukrainian Premier League will take place on Sunday, June 4, and will start at 15:00.
Premier League standings
| # | The team | me | INSIDE | N | P | M | ABOUT | Latest 5 games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Shakhtar D | 29 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 68:19 | 72 | |
| 2. | Dnepr-1 | 29 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 60:27 | 64 | |
| 3. | Dawn | 29 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 61:31 | 64 | |
| 4. | Dinamo K | 29 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 50:24 | 59 | |
| 5. | Alexandria | 29 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 42:39 | 43 | |
| 6. | Vorskla | 29 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 36:36 | 42 | |
| 7. | Krivbass | 29 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 26:29 | 41 | |
| 8. | pass by | 29 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 22:30 | 33 | |
| 9. | Ears | 29 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 22:36 | 33 | |
| 10. | Chernomorets O | 29 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 32:40 | 32 | |
| 11. | Metal worker 1925 | 29 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 22:41 | 31 | |
| 12. | Movement | 29 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 31:37 | 31 | |
| 13. | Ingulec | 29 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 22:33 | 31 | |
| 14. | Heather | 29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 34:45 | 28 | |
| 15. | metal worker | 29 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 27:55 | 22 | |
| 16. | Lviv | 29 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 18:51 | 13 |
