(AP Photo/Francois Mori)

PSG looking to contain Dynamo Kiev in UEFA Cup

PARIS(AP) Paris Saint-Germain will be hoping to leave behind its indifferent domestic form when it hosts Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their UEFA Cup quarterfinal on Thursday.

While PSG's defense has been solid on the European stage, with clean sheets in its last three home games, it has proven shaky in the French league and has conceded eight goals in its last three matches.

Kiev, meanwhile, has mastered the art of squeaking through close encounters and qualified on the away goals rule in the two previous rounds.

"Kiev is a good team that leads its domestic league, we'll have to be careful," PSG defender Tripy Makonda told the club's Web site. "All the teams still in the running have a chance to go all the way. We'll do whatever it takes to make it."

PSG will have France internationals Guillaume Hoarau and Peguy Luyindula to lead its attack. Hoarau is the second best striker in the French league with 16 goals while Luyindula is the club's top striker in the UEFA Cup with six.

"We've already played some big teams and each time we came through," PSG playmaker Stephane Sessegnon said. "We hope we'll find some solutions to beat Kiev on Thursday."

Kiev will be looking to expose the defensive frailities that has seen PSG slip to fifth place in the French league, four points behind leader Lyon.

"We'll do our best to gain victory in Paris because a draw won't be enough for us," Kiev forward Ismael Bangoura said.

Kiev will rely on Ukraine striker Artem Milevsky - who has scored seven goals in Europe this season - and Bangoura, the club's top striker in the Ukrainian league with 12 goals, to pressure the PSG defense.

The Guinea forward has plenty of experience of French opposition having played in the French league with Le Mans from 2005 to 2007.

Kiev is on a seven-game winning streak in the Ukrainian league and is virtually assured of taking the title having amassed a 15 point lead with just eight rounds left.

PSG will miss fullback Sylvain Armand through injury (knee) and centerback Mamadou Sakho who is recovering from an ankle sprain.

Kiev will play without Senegal defender Pape Diakhate and Ukraine defender Taras Mikhalik who are both suffering from knee injuries.

The teams will play the second leg in Kiev on April 16.

Updated April 8, 2009