Preview

May 17, Kryvyi Rih, Hirnyk, 13:00
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV

Match build-up

Shakhtar have 69 points after 28 matches (goal difference: 68–18) and have already secured the league title with three rounds still to play, while the gap to their rivals continues to grow with each matchday: the Pitmen are 12 points clear of closest challengers LNZ, while their advantage over arch-rivals Dynamo Kyiv stands at 18 points. The Miners’ unbeaten run in the Premier League has now reached 19 matches (15 wins and 4 draws). Even after clinching the title, Arda Turan’s men have not eased off their winning run. On Wednesday, the Orange-and-Blacks defeated Obolon (3-1) in a match that lasted four hours due to air raid alerts. Luca Meirelles, Alaa Ghram and Marian Shved got on the scoresheet for Shakhtar. A special mention also goes to 18-year-old goalkeeper Rostyslav Bahlai, an Academy graduate who made his debut for the first team. The team’s most prolific players this season have been Kaua Elias (11 goals and 7 assists) and Luca Meirelles (11 goals and 2 assists).

Opponents

Kryvbas have 13 wins, 8 draws and 7 defeats from 28 matches and are in 5th spot in the Ukrainian Premier League table with 47 points (goal difference: 50-42). The Kryvyi Rih side are no longer contenders for a European qualification spot, from which they trail by 8 points. Over the past month, Patrick van Leeuwen’s team have played several entertaining matches, including a high-scoring clash with Dynamo Kyiv (5-6) and a very productive draw with Poltava (3-3). In the two previous rounds, Kryvbas beat Karpaty (1-0) and Veres (3-1). The team’s top scorer this season is Venezuelan forward Gleiker Mendoza (10 goals and 12 assists).

Match background

Shakhtar and Kryvbas met 49 times in the Ukrainian championships: the Miners have 33 wins, there have been 10 draws and Kryvbas have won 6 matches. Total goal difference: 97-31 in favour of the Pitmen.

Previous meeting

In the previous meeting on December 1, 2025, the teams played at the Arena Lviv in the first half of the UPL season. The visitors opened the scoring through Zaderaka in the 13th minute. In the 38th minute, the Miners levelled through Ocheretko, but two minutes later Vidivald restored Kryvbas’ lead. The second half was tightly contested, with constant attacking pressure from the Orange-and-Blacks, and they eventually equalised again in the 90th minute through Eguinaldo. A 2–2 draw.

The Kryvbas v Shakhtar match will be officiated by a refereeing team led by Klym Zabroda. Assistants – Vitalii Skoblia and Oleksandr Korniiko. VAR – Volodymyr Novokhatnii. VAR assistant – Oleksandr Kalonov.