Preview

April 24, Kyiv, NSC Olympiyskyi, 18:30
Live broadcast on 2+2 TV channel
 
Before the match
 
For both rivals, this is an important title-race game. The Orange-and-Blacks have a 7-point lead and may well extend it this Wednesday, while Dynamo only need a victory in order to fully fit into the title race.
 
In the previous round, Shakhtar confidently defeated Zorya in Kharkiv (3-0) thanks to the goals by Kovalenko, Kayode, and Maycon. Alan Patrick and Junior Moraes, who were absent in that game, are ready to benefit the team now. A couple of days before the Clasico, only Maksym Malyshev and Andrii Totovytskyi trained individually.
 
Ticketing information
 
Just recently, the opponents met in the Ukrainian Cup quarter-finals. The tense standoff ended in a 1-1 draw, with the Miners being more successful in the penalty shootout.
 
Opponents
 
For 8 consecutive rounds now, no UPL team have been an obstacle for Dynamo. Like Shakhtar, Alyaksandr Khatskevich’s men began their winning streak back in December (vs Chornomorets and Karpaty), and in 2019 they claimed major wins on 6 occasions (vs Zorya, Desna, Arsenal-Kyiv, Olimpik, Zorya, and Mariupol).
 
Tamas Kadar, Tomasz Kedziora, Vitalii Buyalskyi, Mykola Shaparenko, and Denys Harmash missed the previous game due to suspension. All of them, except the last footballer, may well play on Wednesday. In Mariupol, the 20-year-old defender Denys Popov made his debut with Dynamo senior team, and the newcomer Carlos de Pena spent 90 minutes on the bench, but scored a goal in the recent friendly Dynamo vs Vorskla.
 
Head-to-head record
 
In 59 league games, Shakhtar secured 20 victories, along with 15 draws and 24 defeats. The goal difference is 69–76. On Dynamo’s pitch, the Miners won on seven occasions, with the previous win happening two years ago (21 April 2017, 1-0).
 
Recent league meeting
 
In Kharkiv on November 3, Shakhtar conceded a first-half goal and scored two goals in the second half. Before the break, Verbic, Patrick, and Moraes had some great chances, and in the 44th minute Shaparenko produced a precision shot after being fed by Pivaric. The score got even in the 54th minute (Taison found himself one-on-one with Boyko, beat the latter and assisted Moraes) and lasted until the ending. In injury time, Kovalenko produced a magnificent shot and brought victory to the Miners, making it 2-1.