Preview

September 16, Lviv, Arena Lviv, 17:00
Live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO, Kyivstar TV, Vodafone TV, Setanta Sports, Volia TV, Sweet.tv, OmegaTV

Match build-up

Shakhtar approach the game as the leaders of the UPL: Patrick van Leeuwen’s lads claimed 4 victories and played 2 draws in 6 rounds, and they lead the league standings with 14 points. The Miners also have the best goal difference (14–7), and their scoring streak has been ongoing for over a year and already includes 35 matches. In the last round, the Orange-and-Blacks defeated Minaj in the away match (4-1). Oleksii Kashchuk scored a goal in the third game in a row, and Bohdan Viunnyk scored his debut goal for the main team, adding 2 assists.

During the international break, 13 Shakhtar players defended the colours of their national teams, so Patrick van Leeuwen managed to gather a full squad only a few days before the match against Obolon. It should be added that Shakhtar defender Giorgi Gocholeishvili and midfielder Artem Bondarenko will skip the game due to suspension.

Opponents

Obolon, formed in 2013, are having their first season in the UPL. At the start of the championship, the team under the guidance of Valerii Ivashchenko have 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses and are in the 11th spot in the table with 5 points (goal difference: 4–9). Kyiv team can take credit for a comeback victory over the current vice-champions Dnipro-1 (2-1), a spectacular derby with Dynamo (2-4) and advancement to the Ukrainian Cup Round of 16 thanks to a victory over Zviahel (0-1).

In the previous round, Obolon lost to other UPL newcomers Polissia (0-2), conceding both goals in the added time. Midfielder of Kyiv team Taras Moroz will skip the game against the Miners due to the red card that he received in Zhytomyr.

Match background

The only official meeting of Shakhtar with newly-formed Obolon took place in the 2014/15 season in the Ukrainian Cup Round of 32. Shakhtar won after Luiz Adriano's penalty goal in the 90th + 2nd minute – 1-0. Also, the teams played two friendly matches – in 2020 and 2021, both times the Orange-and-Black were stronger – 4-0 and 5-0, respectively.

Shakhtar vs Obolon match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Mykola Balakin. Assistants – Dmytro Zaporozhenko and Oleksandr Berkut. VAR system will be used during the game (Vitalii Romanov will be the referee).