Dynamo vs Akhmat - Cup

A fascinating Cup chapter awaits on September 3, 2026 when Dynamo take on Akhmat at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Enzo Maresca verdict on Michael Carrick and Manchester United fixture issue - 'you need to adapt'.

Form and standings can only tell part of the story when Dynamo and Akhmat cross paths in the Cup, and pride alone should guarantee a contest. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. Carrick has experimented with Noussair Mazraoui in that position but he seems to have fallen down the pecking order, as the less experienced Patrick Dorgu was preferred for the Manchester derby loss.

The tactical subplot is compelling: Dynamo favour a possession-based game built on patience and control, while Akhmat are happiest sitting deep and exploding forward on the counter — a classic contrast of philosophies. The winner came from a rare counter-attack by the new-look Spurs side, who defended well throughout with Andy Robertson making his first start and Jan Paul van Hecke on debut, as they battled to secure another win in pre-season.

The fixture features no shortage of talent, and the league's top marksman Matheus Reis — 1 goals this term — will be one to watch. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Talks planned: Arsenal keen on January transfer window swoop for unsettled forward.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. With positions in the Cup table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Manchester City will begin another Premier League season with major uncertainty hanging over the club after league chief executive Richard Masters admitted the long-awaited verdict on their financial case has taken longer than expected.