Preview

Before the match
 
Shakhtar filled the international break with trainings and a test match vs Mariupol (3-2).
 
On Monday, Ivan Ordets joined his teammates, Bohdan Butko also started training in the general group, but Bernard will definitely not help the Pitmen in the game vs Vorskla due to suspension.
 
Obviously, Paulo Fonseca will decide on the list of players for the game in Kharkiv based on their recovery time. For example, Viktor Kovalenko played for Ukraine and Ukraine U21 teams over two days.

Opponents
 
Last season, which was not particularly successful for Vorskla, they played the second stage among the bottom six sides, gaining momentum in the current league edition. Vasyl Sachko’s men sit in the third spot, being 4 points ahead of Veres and Olimpik.
 
After the opening round failure vs Shakhtar (0-3), the team produced an unbeaten run of seven games (5 wins). Having lost only once vs Veres in Lviv (0-1), the Poltava players then tied with Zorya (1-1) and claimed a major away win vs Chornomorets (3-0).
 
In two UPL matches in a row, Yurii Kolomoets scored goals in the dying 10 minutes on both occasions. In the past round, a couple of other attacking players of Vorskla also netted goals – they are Gegham Kadymyan and Vladyslav Kulach.
 
Ihor Perduta, who got the fourth yellow card in Odesa this season, will miss the game vs the Pitmen.
 
Head-to-head record
 
The opponents met in the league 43 times. 32 wins belong to Shakhtar, 2 games were won by Vorskla, with 9 more meetings ending in a draw. The goal difference is 83-23.
 
Shakhtar proved stronger at home 18 times and were tied 3 times. The goal difference is 47-10.

Previous Premier League meeting
 
In the 1st round in Poltava, the current champions claimed a major win – 3-0. In the 27th minute, Facundo Ferreyra won the ball at the edge of the box, escaped the defender and powerfully planted it home into the right-hand corner. Midway through the second half, Marlos showcased his individual brilliance to double the advantage of his team, with Alan Patrick scoring a spectacular goal in injury time.