The Lowdown
A meeting of old and new forces. Dynamo Kiev were one of Europe's finest teams at the end of the last millennium but have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 16 years. Manchester City are there for the third successive season in a row but are looking to make club history by reaching the last eight for the first time in their history. Whereas Dynamo are on course to win a second consecutive Ukrainian title, City are only fourth in the Premier League. The Ukrainian side, who have not played a competitive game since December, should be fresher, if perhaps not at their sharpest. The English team, who have been competing in four competitions, may be fatigued.
How they got here
Dynamo finished second in Group G, largely due to a 2-0 away win against top seeds Porto in their penultimate game. They took four points from their meetings with the Portuguese champions, but only one against Chelsea and lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. They only conceded four goals in six group games.
City topped a Champions League group for the first time, despite losing home and away to last season’s finalists Juventus. Helped by some crucial late goals, they had an immaculate record against Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach. The pivotal result was a 3-1 win in Spain.
Key Players
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City – Injuries meant he missed half of the group stage but the Argentinian still scored the vital late winner in Monchengladbach. A world-class player at the peak of his powers, he has never displayed his talent in the latter stages of the Champions League.
Andriy Yarmolenko, Dinamo Kiev – The Kiev crowd should savour his presence while they can. The Ukraine winger will attract bids in the summer. Equally capable of scoring and creating goals, he presents a real test for whichever City full-back has to halt him.
See more: The National's Champions League last 16 landing page
Points to Prove
Dynamo Kiev – Can Dynamo’s fans behave themselves? A stadium ban was supposed to be enforced for the first leg because of their racist behaviour but Uefa lifted it. Can their team prosper away? Their victory in Portugal ranked among the most surprising and impressive results in this season’s Champions League. Their destiny probably rests on how they fare at the Etihad Stadium in March.
Manchester City – Much of the City team have a point to prove. Too few have performed consistently well in Europe, with Joe Hart and rare and admirable exception. For Yaya Toure, in particular, it represents a chance to prove his doubters wrong. A group of underachievers on the European stage could do with delivering a statement, both to impress their future manager Pep Guardiola and to ensure the departing Manuel Pellegrini goes on a high.
The National’s Verdict
City’s only two previous ventures to the knockout stages were abruptly ended by Barcelona. Confronted by lesser, though still difficult, opponents, they should make a maiden voyage to the quarter-finals, assuming they can escape a trip to Ukraine without suffering much damage.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEquestrian%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAbdullah%20Humaid%20Al%20Muhairi%2C%20Abdullah%20Al%20Marri%2C%20Omar%20Al%20Marzooqi%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Suwaidi%2C%20and%20Ali%20Al%20Karbi%20(four%20to%20be%20selected).%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EJudo%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Narmandakh%20Bayanmunkh%20(66kg)%2C%20Nugzari%20Tatalashvili%20(81kg)%2C%20Aram%20Grigorian%20(90kg)%2C%20Dzhafar%20Kostoev%20(100kg)%2C%20Magomedomar%20Magomedomarov%20(%2B100kg)%3B%20women's%20Khorloodoi%20Bishrelt%20(52kg).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECycling%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESafia%20Al%20Sayegh%20(women's%20road%20race).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESwimming%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Yousef%20Rashid%20Al%20Matroushi%20(100m%20freestyle)%3B%20women%3A%20Maha%20Abdullah%20Al%20Shehi%20(200m%20freestyle).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAthletics%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMaryam%20Mohammed%20Al%20Farsi%20(women's%20100%20metres).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
