Preview

May 19, Dnipro, Dnipro-Arena, 15:30

Match build-up

Shakhtar will play the final matches of the UPL already as the 2023/24 Champions of Ukraine. The Miners won their 15th title in the previous round, beating their direct competitors Dynamo Kyiv (1-0) thanks to Heorhii Sudakov’s goal. Therefore, Donetsk team became unreachable in the standings, where they have 70 points (goal difference: 62–21). The team’s 15-match winning streak in the league continues. Also this week, Marino Pusic’s team achieved a golden double, defeating Vorskla (2-1) in the Ukrainian Cup final.

After solving all the tournament tasks, the head coach of the Orange-and-Blacks promised extensive squad rotation in the last two games of the season. It is known that injured Sudakov and suspended Eguinaldo will not play against Dnipro team. It should be added that Danylo Sikan remains the top goalscorer of Shakhtar this season (16 goals in all competitions, 10 goals in the Premier League).

Opponents

Dnipro-1 are 4th in the table (48 points, goal difference: 37–26). Yurii Maksymov’s team no longer have a chance of getting into the top three, but they have tournament motivation, because they can still lose positions in the European Cup – Rukh and Polissia are only 2 points behind. In the spring, Dnipro team claimed only 3 victories in 11 matches, and they lost away to Oleksandriia (0-1) in the previous round. The most prolific players of the team are Oleksii Hutsuliak (9 goals) and Oleksandr Filippov (8 goals).

Match background

Shakhtar and Dnipro-1 played 8 matches in the UPL: the Miners won 6 matches, Dnipro team were stronger twice. Total goal difference: 16–7 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous match

On November 12, 2023, the teams met in the match of the 14th round of the league at the Arena Lviv. The Miners started the match more actively and opened the scoring in the 5th minute – Sikan scored. However, shortly before the break, the visiting team equalised the score thanks to the efforts of Sarapiia, and at the beginning of the second half, thanks to the goals by Hutsuliak (51 minutes) and Liedniev (56 minutes), they secured a lead that they did not lose until the final whistle – 1-3.

Dnipro-1 vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Denys Shurman. Assistants – Vitalii Skoblia and Taras Chopilko. VAR system will be used during the game (Ihor Paskhal will be the referee).