Preview

May 24, Lviv, Arena Lviv, 15:30
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV

Match build-up

Shakhtar approach the final match of the season without tournament tasks: Marino Pusic’s side have secured the Ukrainian Cup trophy, thus guaranteeing a place in the next UEFA Europa League. In the Ukrainian Premier League, the team currently sit third with 61 points. At the same time, the Miners are the most prolific side in the UPL and currently lead in goal difference: 68-25. The Orange-and-Blacks thrashed Inhulets away (4-1) in the previous round, with the team’s most prolific players scoring braces: Heorhii Sudakov now has 15 goals and 6 assists across all competitions, while the second-best scorer Artem Bondarenko has netted 12 goals and provided 7 assists. Brazilian Kevin completes the top three with 9 goals and 4 assists.

Opponents

Rukh also approach the final UPL round without any particular tournament motivation: the Lviv side have 37 points (goal difference: 29-26) and currently sit 7th in the table. Vitalii Ponomariov’s young team cannot move higher, but they are also guaranteed not to fall below 10th spot. The Lviv-based outfit narrowly lost to Livyi Bereh away (0-1) in the previous round. Rukh’s most prolific player this season is forward Yaroslav Karabin (6 goals and 6 assists).

Match background

Shakhtar and Rukh met 8 times in the Ukrainian Championship: the Miners won 5 matches, with the remaining 3 ending in draws. Total goal difference: 13-4 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous game

On December 1, 2024, the opponents also met at the Arena Lviv in the first half of the UPL season. The Miners led in the first time, having opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Mykola Matviienko. After the beak, both teams had chances to score, but the final twist came in added time when Roman Didyk’s goal earned a draw for Rukh – 1-1.

Rukh vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Viktor Kopiievskyi. Assistant: Ihor Rybchenko and Denys Romanov. VAR – Maryna Striletska.