Preview

May 28, Lviv, Arena Lviv, 15:00
Live stream – Setanta Sports OTT platform

Match build-up

Shakhtar are one step away from the championship title. The Miners have 69 points (goal difference: 65–19) and are 5 points ahead of their only competitors, Dnipro-1, 2 rounds before the end of the season. It is enough for Shakhtar not to lose in a face-to-face showdown between the leaders in order to win the title early.

A spectacular victory in the previous round against another opponent, Zorya (3-0) allowed Igor Jovicevic's lads to extend the lead as much as possible. It is symbolic that the young leaders of the Orange-and-Blacks scored against Luhansk: the team's best player according to the goal+pass system, Heorhii Sudakov (5 goals and 7 assists in the UPL), the most prolific player in the spring part of the league, Artem Bondarenko (7 goals and 4 assists in the season) and main joker, Kevin Kelsy (4 out of 5 goals – after coming on as a substitute).

Opponents

Dnipro-1 gained 64 points in 28 games (goal difference: 60–24) and they have to win the last 2 matches and hope for the opponent's failures in order to win the championship. Oleksandr Kucher's team had a great first part of the season, but lost too much in the spring, not only letting Shakhtar overtake them, but also falling behind considerably.

Perhaps, the defeat in the last round against Vorskla (1-2) was fatal for Dnipro team. Having started with an early goal by Blanco, the host team conceded 2 goals before the break and failed to change the situation during the second half. It should be added that captain Oleksandr Svatok will skip tomorrow's game due to excess of cards.

Match background

Shakhtar and Dnipro-1 played 6 matches in the UPL: 5 victories of the Miners, 1 victory of Dnipro team. Total goal difference: 12–4 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous match

On November 19, 2022, Shakhtar and Dnipro-1 met in Uzhhorod at Avanhard stadium in the match of the first round. The Orange-and-Blacks opened the scoring in the 17th minute – Mudryk scored from Bondarenko's cross. Thanks to a well-placed kick by Pikhalonok, Dnipro team quickly equalised the score, and at the beginning of the second half, Dovbyk scored the second goal, which was the deciding one – 1-2.

Shakhtar vs Dnipro-1 match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Kateryna Monzul. Assistants – Maryna Striletska and Svitlana Hrushko. VAR system will be used during the game (VAR referee – Anastasiia Romaniuk).