Preview

December 7, Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, 22:00

Match build-up

Shakhtar will round off their 2021/22 campaign with this game. The Miners are finishing fourth in Group D after scoring a point in the previous five rounds (a 0-0 draw vs Inter in September). Before leaving for the winter holidays, the team are to play two more games: vs Sheriff in the Champions League and vs Oleksandriia in the Ukrainian league.

At yesterday’s press conference, Roberto De Zerbi stressed the importance of this match for the team from different points of view. All the footballers must show their progress in the top-level games. The defender Valerii Bondar noted two key aspects – the team need some defensive safety and conversion of their chances.

Preliminary player list

Goalkeepers: Shevchenko, Pyatov, Trubin

Defenders: Dodo, Vitao, Kryvtsov, Matviienko, Konoplia, Ismaily, Korniienko, Bondar

Midfielders: Maycon, Marcos Antonio, Marlos, Tete, Bondarenko, Solomon, Mudryk, Sudakov, Konoplyanka

Forwards: Moraes, Sikan, Fernando

Opponents

Sheriff have had a historic Champions League campaign and secured a spot in the Europa League play-offs this coming February. The Tiraspol players claimed six points in the starting rounds: vs Shakhtar at home (2-0) and vs Real Madrid away (2-1). The champions of Moldova suffered two defeats at Inter, but scored goals in both matches (losing 1-3 in both games).

Sheriff's coach Yurii Vernydub, who has come to Ukraine with a foreign team for a European match for the first time, said on Monday evening that his players feel like enjoying the game, showing their form, quality football and achieving a positive result.

Head-to-head record

Three different results were recorded in the encounters between the clubs in European competitions: a 0-0 draw, along with 2-0 wins by both Shakhtar and Sheriff.

Previous meeting