Preview

August 18, Kyiv, Livyi Bereh, 18:00
Live stream will be available on UPL.TV

Match build-up

Having started the season with a confident victory over Vorskla (5-0), Shakhtar were unexpectedly defeated by Polissia (0-1) in the next match a week ago. Therefore, Marino Pusic’s team have 3 points after 2 played rounds (goal difference: 5–1) and are 3rd in the Ukrainian League standings.

The Miners were preparing for the game against the UPL newcomers at the Sviatoshyn base, and at the beginning of the week, they managed to play a friendly against the representatives of the First League Mariupol, claiming a 3-0 victory. Pedrinho, Bartol Franjic and Lassina Traore scored the goals in this test match. We note that midfielder Oleksandr Zubkov, who is out for several weeks due to injury, will not help the Orange-and-Blacks in the Sunday’s match. There are no suspended players in the squad of the Pitmen.

Opponents

Livyi Bereh are making their debut in the UPL this season. The club was founded in 2017, and it turned professional in 2021 and played in the Second League. In the 2023/24 season, the team from Kyiv’s Osokorky neighborhood played in the First League, where they took 3rd spot. Livyi Bereh advanced to the Premier League thanks to the victory in the four-club transition tournament, which took place at the end of July after Dnipro-1 withdrew from the competition.

Livyi Bereh could have gained points in the first match in the elite division, but they conceded in the added time and lost away to LNZ (0-1). In the second round, the team coached by 54-year-old Vitalii Pervak were defeated by Vorskla (0-3) at home. A difficult start to the season was followed up by elimination from the Ukrainian Cup, where the Kyiv team lost to the First League team Kudrivka (2-3) in the first round last Wednesday.

Match background

The teams have not met before in the Ukrainian League and the Ukrainian Cup.

Livyi Bereh vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Dmytro Panchyshyn. Assistants – Maryna Striletska and Svitlana Hrushko. VAR system will be used during the game (Andrii Kovalenko will be the referee).