Preview

Before the match
 
The encounter between the first and the third teams is the main game of the round. The Miners, who are four points ahead of Dynamo, need a victory. Shakhtar are the most prolific league side (31 goals), nevertheless managing to net only one goal in the previous game vs Oleksandriia.

In the games against Oleksandriia and Napoli, Paulo Fonseca relied on the same version of the starting line-up. It is possible that some changes will be made in the upcoming Donetsk derby. Yesterday, Bohdan Butko trained individually, with Serhii Kryvtsov and Maksym Malyshev continuing to work under the guidance of physios.
 
Opponents
 
Before November 19, Olimpik were second in the league only to Shakhtar and Dynamo. In the 16th round, Roman Sanzhar’s men missed two goals by Chornomorets in the second half, responding in injury time with a goal by Zurab Ochigava.
 
Thanks to the autumn streak of three wins and three draws, the Miners’ opponents claimed the third place, going three points ahead of Veres and Vorskla. Olimpik have excellently played their home games, with the Donetsk players having scored goals in 5 consecutive games at the Lobanovskyi Dynamo stadium.
 
Due to excessive yellow cards, midfielder Andrii Bohdanov will not appear in the match.
 
Head-to-head record
 
Shakhtar have six victories over Olimpik and three draws at the goal difference of 26-5. The Miners lost points away on one occasion, claiming maximum points three times (13-3).
 
Previous league meeting
 
In August, at the OSC Metalist, the champions dominated from the starting and took the lead by the middle of the first half: Ferreyra got on the end of a set piece and headed it home. Before the break, Rakits’kyy and Stepanenko threatened on goal with their long-range shots, but they managed to disappoint Makharadze only in the 57th minute of the second half, when Marlos was brought down and converted the spot kick himself – 2-0.