Chaos with an optimistic ending: how the Cossacks were welcomed in Turkey. Here are five takeaways from the Galatasaray vs. Dynamo match.

The champion highlights the key points following a match that provided fans with much food for thought. This time, it was more delightful than bitter.

Yarmolenko's Triumphant Return: The Leader Who Was Missed

The vice-captain of Dynamo played only his second match in the main round of the Europa League, and immediately scored more than all other goal scorers combined before his contribution in the game against Galatasaray. However, Yarmolenko's role on the field extended far beyond just scoring goals. The second leading scorer in the history of the Ukrainian national team showcased his class by demonstrating skills that were critically lacking for the "white-blues" in previous matches.

We're talking about the ability to dictate the game while also guiding his teammates. Yarmolenko's behavior in moments where he displayed high levels of ball control, intuition in finishing stages, and icy cold composure in battles became those sips of confidence for a Dynamo side disheartened by previous games, allowing the team to believe in themselves.

Mikhavko, Who Pleasantly Surprised

The episode with Taras Mikhavko's tough tackle on Victor Osimhen's attempt to break into space did not deceive. This situation became the starting point that set the tone for all actions of the extremely charged and motivated player in the match. It was the best performance yet for the 19-year-old defender in the "white-blues" lineup.

Even considering the vast amount of chaos and the low level of game reading in Dynamo's defense overall, Mikhavko stood out with several virtues. The Dynamo defender was unusually successful and aggressive in duels, acted preemptively, and in most cases chose his position wisely. Not to mention the traditional qualities of a center-back that he had already displayed in previous international matches. As before, Mikhavko adeptly, timely, and skillfully redirected the ball to the right zones and offered himself to teammates. And this is precisely the type of performance that helps young and promising players increase their value by not just 1 million.

Neshcheret, Who Received a Stroke of Luck (?)

When 18-year-old Ruslan Neshcheret impressed the public and specialists during a Champions League match against Barcelona in the 2020/2021 season, the young goalkeeper was predicted to have a bright future. However, there followed difficult years transitioning to professional level, several unnecessary mistakes, and the inevitable loss of status as the country's most promising goalkeeper. Yet, as they say, life loves surprises.

The appearance of Georgiy Bushchan only on the bench indicates the imminent departure of the team's unchanging No. 1, likely to Saudi Arabia. What Kyiv will lose and gain from such an outgoing transfer is a topic for another discussion. But for now, Neshcheret was much closer to the standards of the player who stopped Barcelona's players than to the one conceding goals from long-range shots by the most principled opponents, and his positioning in the last chance episode against Galatasaray will boost Ruslan's confidence for the upcoming match against RFSh.

A Bet That Could Mark a New Beginning for the Coach's Thoughts: Shovkovskiy Became More Decisive

Eduardo Guerrero's appearance in the 74th minute in place of Vladyslav Kabayev may seem like a routine event in another Dynamo match at first glance. The Panamanian national team player comes on, not replacing a teammate in the same position, but instead taking the place of a midfielder, adding numerical presence to the attack, only for the third time in this current Dynamo campaign in the Europa League. However, this is the first time it happens under favorable conditions on the field and with the dynamics of the match.

The former Zorya player did not significantly increase the pressure on the opponents' goal. Let's be honest – in the first match of the Kyiv team in 2025, we still saw a forward from the first half of the season and a player who needs to get out of that state quickly. Guerrero, if he helped his team near the opponent's goal, did so nominally rather than practically, diverting attention to himself. Nevertheless, the very fact of the coaching staff's readiness to take risks and feel the match's nerve allows us to talk about Shovkovskiy's renewed approach against the backdrop of previous experiences.

Dynamo – In the New Year, Problems Remain from 2024

For the current Dynamo, earning 1 point on the field of the current Galatasaray is a good result. The "white-blues" not only came back from being 2 goals down in a match that was not in their favor but also significantly improved after the break in their first official game after more than a month-long hiatus. However, despite all the positivity that the Kyiv team's game in Istanbul provided, there is still a lingering shadow they need to shake off.

The Kyivans once again lost control over their emotions and the flow of the game after conceding the first goal and took a long time to recover. Dynamo remains vulnerable on set pieces. The team continues to "shy away" from initiating attacks near the opponent's penalty area, and instead of opting for a shot on goal, they overwhelmingly choose a scenario of positional play, which is generally feeble. However, this is one of those cases where a spoonful of tar in a small, but still a bucket of honey.