Preview

April 22, Kyiv, V. Lobanovskyi Dynamo stadium, 17:00
Live broadcast will be available on 2+2

Match build-up

Shakhtar are leading the UPL standings, having scored 52 points in 21 matches played. The Miners have the best goal difference as well: 52 scored goals vs 15 conceded. The Pitmen’s advantage is 7 points over Dnipro-1 and 12 points over Dynamo. Igor Jovicevic’s men managed to increase their lead last week due to wins against Lviv (2-1 and 2-0). Heorhii Sudakov and Kevin Kelsy scored in the first game and Artem Bondarenko became the man of the second meeting, scoring a brace.

Shakhtar players have been preparing for the Ukrainian Clasico in Kyiv since Monday, training at the base of the Sviatoshyn training complex. Personnel news wise, it is worth noting that Marian Shved got back to work in the general group. Also, none of the Miners will miss the uncompromising meeting due to disqualification.

Opponents

Dynamo continue fighting for the top spots, sitting in the fourth spot of the UPL table. The Kyiv side earned 40 points in 21 rounds (12 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses). At the same time, Mircea Lucescu’s men have no suitable efficiency (30 goals scored), compensating for this with a reliable play in defence (17 conceded goals). The best strikers of the capital-based team are currently Vitalii Buialskyi (11 goals) and Vladyslav Vanat (8).

Dynamo played 6 matches in the spring part of the season: they lost to Inhulets (0-2) and Zorya (0-1), beat Dnipro-1 (1-0), Lviv (2-0) and Minaj (2-0), tied with Rukh (1-1) away in the previous round.

Match background

Shakhtar and Dynamo played 69 matches in the Ukrainian League. The Miners have a minimal statistical advantage: 26 wins, 18 draws, and 25 losses. Total goal difference: 85-83 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous meeting

On October 16, 2022, Shakhtar and Dynamo met at Arena Lviv in the first stage match and give one of the most spectacular games of the season. The Pitmen opened the score thanks to Oleksandr Zubkov's goal in the 29th minute. At the end of the first half, they could have increased the advantage, but Neshcheret parried a penalty by Traore. Immediately after the break, Vladyslav Vanat equalized, but then Mykhailo Mudryk brought the Miners ahead again. The Kyiv-based side had one man down in the middle of the second half. In the 74th minute, Danylo Sikan put a period in the match with a precise shot. 3-1 – win of Igor Jovicevic’s team.

Dynamo vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Vitalii Romanov. Assistants: Volodymyr Volodin and Oleksandr Korniiko. VAR system will be used during the game (video assistant referee: Andrii Skrypka).