By Pavel Polityuk
DNIPROPETROVSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Eastern Ukrainian club Dnipro are unexpectedly poised for possible European soccer glory, lifting the gloom in their war-weary country, at least for a while.
With fighting raging on the doorstep of its hometown of Dnipropetrovsk, the club had to travel 500 km (310 miles) to play their Europa League home matches in the capital, Kiev, away from their fans and often at near-empty stadiums.
That sapped morale early on, they say.
But despite the odds, they have fought their way to the Europa League final on Wednesday against Spain's Sevilla, and when they run onto the pitch in Warsaw they say they will have their compatriots on the front line in mind.