Preview

May 24, Kyiv, V. Lobanovskyi Dynamo stadium, 17:00
Live broadcast will be available on 2+2 TV channel

Match build-up

Shakhtar approached the decisive stretch of the championship as the UPL leaders: the Miners have 66 points after 27 matches (goal difference: 62-19), with Dnipro-1 being 2 points behind (the Pitmen are to face them on Sunday) and Zorya being 5 points behind. Such position in the table and schedule of the last rounds guarantee an intense and interesting final of the season.

Igor Jovicevic’s side continue their unbeaten run: in the spring, the Orange-and-Blacks played 14 matches, having 11 wins and 3 draws. In the previous round, Shakhtar beat Veres in a tough game owing to the goals by Zubkov and Matviienko. We want to point out that Bohdan Mykhailichenko will miss the meeting with Zorya due to suspension.

Opponents

Zorya became one of the discoveries of the current season: the Luhansk outfit have almost ensured the championship medals, and also continue to fight to be in the Champions League and even have a chance for the title. Currently, Patrick van Leeuwen’s men have 61 points (goal difference: 59-28) and the third spot in the UPL table – they are 2 points behind the second spot and 8 points ahead of their direct competitors Dynamo.

Zorya are having an extremely strong second part of the season: the Luhansk team secured 11 wins and lost once in 12 matches. The outfit didn’t concede at all in 4 May rounds, securing clean sheets against Veres (1-0), Metalist 1925 (3-0), Metalist (5-0), and Inhulets (2-0). Bost best finishers – Nazarii Rusyn (10 goals and 4 assists) and Volodymyr Brazhko (7 goals) – scored in the last match. A significant personnel loss ahead of the game against the Miner may be injury of the best Zorya newcomer Eduardo Guerrero who scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists in the spring matches.

Match background

Shakhtar and Zorya played 50 matches in the Ukrainian League: 39 wins of the Miners, 4 draws, with the Luhansk outfit proving stronger 7 times. Total goal difference: 122-38 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous meeting

On November 13, 2022, Shakhtar and Zorya had the first stage encounter at the Arena Lviv. The Pitmen opened the score thanks to the precise shot by Artem Bondarenko in the 13th minutes. However, the visitors equalized at the end of the half through the efforts of Ihor Kyriukhantsev and got in front immediately after the break when Serhii Buletsa scored the goal. The final score was set in the 64th minute by defender of the Miners Valerii Bondar. Battling 2-2 draw as a result.

Zorya vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Oleksandr Shandor. Assistants: Yevhen Petrakov and Serhii Prystupa. VAR system will be used during the game (video assistant referee: Mykola Balakin).