Copenhagen vs Polissya Zhytomyr: prediction and odds

The first leg between Polissya and Copenhagen was a true spectacle for fans of attacking football—six goals were scored, but the sides failed to produce a winner (3-3). Now, as the tie moves to Denmark, the question is whether Copenhagen can leverage home advantage or whether Polissya will once again rattle the favourites.

Tactical Analysis: Copenhagen’s Efficiency Dilemma

Last season was a disappointment for one of Denmark’s most decorated clubs, but Copenhagen still earned a place in the Conference League qualifiers. The summer saw the team retain its core and undergo a busy preparation period, with Bo Svensson’s coaching staff prioritising matches against strong opponents. The Danes defeated Swedish champions Mjällby (5-3) and Viborg (2-1), drew with Viktoria (1-1) and Horsens (3-3). Across those four friendlies, they scored 11 goals—a clear sign of their attacking potential. However, defensive reliability remains the biggest concern.

That problem was starkly evident against Polissya. Svensson’s side conceded three times and allowed the Ukrainians to create far more dangerous chances, but they escaped defeat thanks to excellent finishing. Copenhagen have since started their domestic season, beating Lyngby 3-2. That win should have boosted confidence, but it has not fully resolved their issues in positional defence. The Danes urgently need to improve their work without the ball; otherwise, Polissya’s aggressive pressing could once again put the backline under severe pressure.

Tactical Analysis: Polissya Should Have Left with the Win

Third place in last season’s Ukrainian Premier League earned Polissya a third consecutive European campaign, and they began their continental journey with a thrilling encounter against Copenhagen. Ruslan Rotan’s team played with courage and aggression for most of the match, denying the Danes any calm build-up. High pressing regularly forced errors from the opposition, and the expected goals (xG) statistics tell a clear story of the quality of chances created—2.90 to 0.88 in Polissya’s favour. With such dominance, the Ukrainians could have expected victory, but poor finishing let them down.

An additional problem was concentration at the start of each half: Polissya conceded twice in the opening minutes, allowing the opponent to capitalise on their few opportunities. That said, their pre-season preparation gave reason to expect such vibrant football. Over the summer, Rotan’s men drew with Jagiellonia (0-0), lost to Universitatea Craiova (3-4), and thrashed CSKA Sofia (4-0). All those opponents are regulars in European competitions, so the squad gained valuable experience ahead of the qualifiers. Now, Rotan must sharpen his side’s finishing and eliminate the early lapses in concentration, because the first leg proved that his team can cause serious problems for the favourites.

Predicted Lineups

Copenhagen (4-2-3-1): Kotarski – Meling, Pereira, Beijmo, López – Delaney, Král – Elyounoussi, Mukoko, Robert – Cornelius

Out: Nemeth (injured)

Head coach: Bo Svensson

Polissya (4-3-3): Bushchan – Mykhaylichenko, Chobotenko, Sarapiy, Krushynskyi – Andriievskyi, Tomandzoto, Fedor – Andrade, Krasnopii, Nazarenko

Out: None

Head coach: Ruslan Rotan

Referee: Marek Radina (Czech Republic)

For the Czech official, this will be his fifth match in the Conference League. His average card count stands at 5.25 yellow cards per game, with 25.25 fouls called. Radina is a systematic and rather strict referee, preferring to keep emotions in check by using his yellow cards early.

Prediction and Bet

Main prediction: Copenhagen win at 1.65

In the first leg, Copenhagen received a crucial lesson: against an aggressive Polissya, they cannot afford to switch off without the ball. At the same time, the Danes proved they can punish the slightest mistakes, scoring three times despite having far fewer dangerous approaches. Now, Bo Svensson’s side will play at home, where they will surely try to deprive the Ukrainians of the space they need to press. Polissya possess serious attacking potential, but their finishing problems and lack of concentration at the start of halves have not gone away. We believe that in the return leg, home advantage will be a key factor, and the Danish side will play more cautiously and pragmatically, securing the result they need. Take Copenhagen to win at 1.65.

Over/under prediction: Over 2.5 goals at 1.62

The first leg ended 3-3, and there are few signs that scoring will drop sharply. Both teams excel in attack but struggle in defence. Copenhagen’s league match against Lyngby only confirmed that they have no issues in the final third. With such a combination of styles, another high-scoring encounter is very likely. Take over 2.5 goals at 1.62.