Preview

September 2, Lviv, Ukraina Stadium, 17:00

Before the match

Shakhtar started the season with draw vs Metalist 1925 (0-0) and then defeated newcomer of the Premier League Kryvbas (1-0) thanks to Artem Bondarenko’s goal. This is the first victory of the Miners in competitive games under Igor Jovicevic’s management. By the way, the team played 17 matches (14 victories and 3 draws) in a row in the UPL without defeats.

We want to point out that Oleksandr Zubkov who has returned to the club participated in the match against the team from Kryvyi Rih Unfortunately, it was not without staff losses: Shakhtar defender Viktor Korniienko was seriously injured and is now forced to skip about 6 months. Also there is a minor injury of Sergii Kryvtsov.

Other footballers prepared for the match vs Rukh during the past few days. Burkinian forward Lassina Traore and the Pitmen’s newcomer Marian Shved joined the team in Lviv. We want to remind that the Miners will go to Germany to play the UCL group stage match vs RB Leipzig after the championship game.

Opponent

Rukh did not have the best beginning of their third season in the UPL: Leonid Kuchuk’s team lost to Metalist (1-2) and Kolos (0-2) in the opening rounds. Game with the opponent from Kharkiv is noticeable due to the fact that it was interrupted by air alarms and lasted for 4 hours 27 minutes in general.

This summer Rukh’s behaviour at the transfer market was quite modest. Saving the skeleton staff including international players Solomon and Talles, the team was strengthened only by one newcomer, ex-midfielder of Liviv Oleksiy Dovhyi.

Match background

The opponents met three times in the Ukrainian league: 2 victories of Shakhtar and 1 draw. Total goal difference: 5-1 in favour of the Miners.

Previous meeting

Shakhtar defeated Rukh 2-1 on September 20, 2021 at the NSC Olimpiyskiy in Kyiv. The Miners had visible domination throughout the entire match, but they managed to convert their chances only at the game end. Marcos Antonio made a powerful shot across the penalty area putting the ball precisely into the top corner and opened the score in the 86th minute. Then he provided an assist for Tete who made the final result in the 88th minute.