Preview

August 2, Rivne, Avanhard, 17:00
Live broadcast – MEGOGO, Kyivstar TV, Setanta Sports, Volia TV, Sweet.tv, OmegaTV

Match build-up

Shakhtar started defending their title with a victory over Metalist 1925 (2-1) last weekend. The first goals of the Miners in the new season were scored by Mykola Matviienko and Lassina Traore, and as many as 5 players made their debut for the team in the opening round: goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk and winger Oleksii Kashchuk played from the first minutes, and newcomers of the Orange-and-Blacks Pedrinho, Newerton and Denil Castillo came on as substitutes.

The coaching staff of the Miners still cannot count on Yaroslav Rakitskyi, Viktor Korniienko and Yehor Nazaryna, who are serving the suspension which started at the end of the previous season. Also, injured Valerii Bondar will not be helping the team for 2 months. It should be noted that the match against Veres was supposed to take place next Saturday, but the game was rescheduled due to the participation of Shakhtar in the charity match against Tottenham in support of the people of Ukraine, which will be held in London on August 6.

Opponents

Veres finished the last season with play-off matches for the right to stay in the UPL, where they confidently defeated Metalurh Zaporizhzhia. After securing the team's place in the elite division, Yurii Virt resigned from his position as head coach of Rivne team, instead Serhii Lavrynenko, well-known in Ukraine for his work with Inhulets, took charge of the team. In the summer, an entire group of free agents, which also included two Brazilian internationals, defender Julio Cesar and attacking midfielder Iago Siqueira, joined the Red-and-Blacks.

Veres started the new championship with a home defeat to UPL debutant Polissia (0-2). Rivne team conceded a goal at the very beginning and at the end of the first half, and they played in the majority throughout almost the entire second half, but did not manage to reduce the gap. In addition, defender Denys Balan was sent off for 2 yellow cards and will now skip the match against the Miners.

Match background

Shakhtar and Veres met 13 times in the Ukrainian League: the Orange-and-Blacks had 11 victories, 1 match ended in a draw, Rivne team were stronger in 1 game. Total goal difference: 26–7 in favour of the Miners.

Previous match

On May 19, 2023, Shakhtar and Veres played at Avanhard. The visiting team, who were fighting for the title, were the first to score – Oleksandr Zubkov scored in the 35th minute. However, after the break, the Red-and-Blacks were able to equalize the score thanks to a well-placed kick by Vladyslav Sharai. And yet Mykola Matviienko's goal in the 84th minute allowed Shakhtar to win a very important victory – 2-1.

Veres vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Oleksandr Shandor. Assistants – Dmytro Zaporozhenko and Valentin Kutsev.