Preview

October 6, Dnipro, Dnipro-Arena, 14:00
Live broadcast on 2+2 TV channel
 
Before the match
 
Shakhtar are topping the table, enjoying the highest score after 9 rounds. On Saturday, Desna played Olimpik and reduced the gap to 7 points, while Dynamo will test their strength vs Kolos on Sunday.
 
The Miners flew to Dnipro on the matchday’s eve. Mykola Matviienko and Serhii Bolbat remained in Kyiv, while Vitao, Marquinhos Cipriano, and Andrii Boriachuk played for 90 minutes for the U21 team. At the same time, striker Danylo Sikan, who has only 1 sub appearance with the first team, is on the preliminary player list.

For the second time in a row, Shakhtar's away league game kicks off quite early - at 14:00. A fortnight ago, in Chernihiv, a goal by Marlos brought the Orange-and-Blacks victory. At the same time last season, the champions held games in Oleksandriia and Mariupol (2-0, 1-0).
 
Opponents
 
Dnipro-1 advanced to the top tier before this season, sitting in the middle of the UPL table - in 9 rounds, the team claimed three wins and drew twice (11 points, 10 goals, and 11 goals conceded).
 
In September, the Dnipro outfit alternated defeats and victories, with the same score being registered on three occasions - 2-0 in favour of the hosts. Dmytro Mykhailenko’s men suffered away defeats at the hands of Oleksandriia and Dynamo, beating Karpaty at home (everything was decided by a brace by the U20 world champion Vladyslav Supryaha).
 
Dnipro-1 are among the top 4 teams who play long balls less often than others, also being in the top 3 for the percentage of defensive challenges won. In the latter aspect, the best player is another representative of the world award-winning U21 team Oleksandr Safronov (62.3%), who has played at centre-back and right-back this season.
 
Head-to-head record
 
The teams have never met in the Championship yet, but they locked horns on April 17 in the Cup semi-final. Back then, at the Dnipro-Arena, it was 00 until the 86th minute, with Dentinho sending home Solomon's delivery. And before the final whistle, Manor’s attempt took deflection off Marcos Antonio and hit the back of the net for the second time, sealing Shakhtar's 0-2 victory.