Preview

April 1, Zaporizhya, Slavutych Arena, 19:30
Live broadcast on the 2+2 TV channel
 
Before the match
 
After a short international break, the Premier League is back to its usual pace. The title race is in full swing, with 8 crucial rounds ahead. In 2018, Shakhtar claimed 5wins with the aggregate goal difference of 19-0, and now they are meeting with the opponents to have caused them the most recent defeat in domestic competitions.
 
Until December, under Paulo Fonseca, Shakhtar claimed regular wins in the UPL (1-0, 2-1, 2-1, 3-2, 3-1) and in the Cup (4-3). The Donetsk team are set to make the most of it on Sunday as well. The have been preparing in full force, except the suspended Yaroslav Rakits’kyy.
 
Opponents
 
In the next rounds, Zorya are facing encounters with the leaders - Shakhtar and Dynamo. Yuri Vernydub’s men, who claimed the league bronze last season, two weeks ago, returned to the third spot two weeks ago. On Saturday, Vorskla gotpast them again (38 points), with Veres and Mariupol also chasing the team (33 points each).
 
Interestingly, in the recent 16 games the Lugansk team have suffered only one loss. It happened on March 4 vs Dynamo in Kyiv, with the hosts taking the lead on two occasions (with the final score of 2-3). In the rest of meetings, they have kept a clean sheet this year (vs Karpaty, Vorskla, Mariupol, Veres), enjoying 3 wins and a draw.
 
Head-to-head record
 
In the Ukrainian league, the teams met 34 times: 29 wins for Shakhtar, 5 for Zorya. The goal difference is 89-22.
 
The Luhansk side had 2 home wins and 15 home defeats (48-11 in favour of the champions).
 
Previous league meeting 
 
On December 10, at the Slavutych Arena, the opponents had their last meeting before the winter break. After the first-half stalemate, Petriak put Shakhtar in front in the 55th minute. Everything turned upside down in the dying stages: due to the second yellow cards, Petriak and Fred left the field ahead of time, then they sent off Rakits’kyy, with Silas equalizing from the penalty spot. Just before the final whistle, the Luhansk clinched the 3 points through a ricocheted ball off Butko.