Preview

December 6, Kovalivka, Kolos, 15:30
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV

Match build-up

Shakhtar approach the final fixture of the first half of the season as leaders of the Ukrainian Championship. After 14 rounds, the Miners collected 31 points and hold the best goal difference: 37-12. Arda Turan’s side had a strong November, securing five victories across the UPL and the UEFA Conference League. However, their run came to an end in the previous match, as they were drew with Kryvbas (2-2), with Oleh Ocheretko and Eguinaldo on the scoresheet for the Orange-and-Blacks. Shakhtar’s most prolific player this season remains Kaua Elias, who has registered 10 goals and 4 assists (5 goals and 2 assists in the UPL).

Opponents

Kolos are enjoying a successful first half of the season and sit fourth in the UPL table after 14 rounds. Ruslan Kostyshyn’s team recorded 6 wins and 5 draws with 3 defeats, collecting 23 points (goal difference: 16-12). At present, the Kovalivka side are on a 5-match unbeaten run, which includes victories over Kudrivka (3-1) and Dynamo (2–1), while they shared the points with Obolon (0-0) away in the previous round. The team’s leading scorer this season is 28-year-old forward Yurii Klymchuk, who has 9 goals in all competitions (7 in the UPL). It is also worth noting that defender Maksym Maksymenko will miss the upcoming fixture through suspension.

Match background

Shakhtar and Kolos met 13 times in the Ukrainian Premier League: 9 victories of the Miners, 1 draw, with 1 clash won by the Kovalivka side. Total goal difference: 33-12 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous meeting

On 19 April, the teams met in the UPL at Arena Lviv. The match did not go according to the Miners’ plan: They conceded two goals from Rrapaj and Tsurikov in the first half, responding only once through an effort from Marlon Gomes. The second half also produced 3 goals – in the same proportion: Veleten and Bolivar scored for Kolos, while Kevin converted a penalty for the Pitmen – 2-4.

The Kolos vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Maksym Kozyriatskyi. Assistants – Dmytro Zaporozhenko and Yaroslav Trykhlib. VAR – Roman Blavatskyi.