Preview

February 27, Lviv, Arena Lviv, 15:30
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV

Match build-up

Shakhtar continue their fight for the league title and currently share first spot in the UPL table, having collected 38 points from 17 matches (goal difference: 45-12). The second half of the season began last Sunday with a convincing win over Karpaty (3-0). The main protagonists of that match were players returning from six-month injury layoffs: Burkinabé striker Lassina Traore marked his 100th appearance for the Miners with a hat-trick, while Brazilian winger Alisson provided two assists.

The Orange-and-Blacks are still without their top scorer Kaua Elias (11 goals and 4 assists this season), who is recovering from injury, and midfielder Marlon Gomes will also miss the upcoming game due to suspension.

Opponents

After 16 rounds, Veres have 5 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses and sit ninth in the Ukrainian Championship with 21 points (goal difference: 16-19). Since the resumption of the season, the Rivne side secured a hard-fought win over Poltava (3-2), overturning a two-goal deficit in the first half through goals from Tsipot, Kharatin and Ndukve. The team’s top scorers this season are midfielder Vitalii Boiko and striker Denis Ndukve (both with 4 goals).

During the winter break, Veres’ squad saw little change: a few players left as free agents, while young Brazilian wingers Guilherme Bahia and Fabrício, as well as 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder Andre Gonçalves joined the Rivne club on loan from Polissia.

Match background

In the UPL, Shakhtar and Veres have met 14 times: 10 wins for the Miners, 3 draws, 1 victory for the Rivne side. Total goal difference: 28-8 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous match

On August 17, 2025, the teams faced each other in a league fixture at the Avanhard Stadium in Rivne. The Miners held a clear advantage throughout the match and converted it into two goals: at the end of the first half, Yukhym Konoplia opened the scoring, and in the 62nd minute, Vinicius Tobias sealed the final result. 2-0 – a victory for the Pitmen.

The Shakhtar vs Veres match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Oleksandr Shandor. Assistant referees – Denys Marchenko and Stanislav Marulin. VAR – Klym Zabroda.