Preview

April 16, Kryvyi Rih, Hirnyk, 14:00
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV

The match kicked off on September 1, 2024, but was interrupted in the 51st minute due to an air raid alert in Kryvyi Rih, with Shakhtar leading 1-0 at the time.

Kryvbas: Klishchuk, Stetskov, Drambaiev, Kuzyk, Dibango, Bandeira, Romanchuk, Bizimana, Vakulko, Sosah, Lunov (Mykytyshyn, 46′)

Substitutes: Khima, Makhankov, Ochowechi, Khomchenovskyi, Tverdokhlib, Kozhushko, Zaderaka, Amoroso, Poniedielnik, Poe

Shakhtar: Riznyk, Bondar, Vinicius Tobias, Pedro Henrique, Matviienko, Stepanenko, Kryskiv, Sudakov, Pedrinho, Eguinaldo, Sikan

Substitutes: Fesiun, Azarov, Konoplia, Ghram, Franjic, Bondarenko, Nazaryna, Kevin, Newertton, Traore, Shved, Zubkov

Goal: 0-1 Stepanenko (40′)

Yellow cards: Bizimana (6′), Matviienko (38′)

Match build-up

The Miners head into this match on the back of four consecutive wins in the league and the Ukrainian Cup. So, last Friday, Marino Pusic's team hammered LNZ Cherkasy away in the UPL game (4-1). The hero of the match was the Pitmen’s Brazilian midfielder Marlon Gomes, who was involved in all three goals (scoring a brace and contributing to an own goal), while Lassina Traore also found the net. We should also mention two assists by Artem Bondarenko, who ranks among the league’s top performers in the goal + assist system, with 9 goals and 6 assists. Thus, Shakhtar now have 50 points (goal difference: 55-17) and are in 3rd spot in the table, having reduced the distance to the nearest opponents almost to a minimum.

As for the personnel situation of the Orange-and-Blacks, the team's midfielder Dmytro Kryskiv returned to training in the general group the day before. As before, goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk and right defender Yukhym Konoplia continue recovering. There are no disqualified players of Shakhtar.

Opponents

Kryvbas have played 22 matches in the current UPL season, accumulating 35 points (goal difference: 24-22). Currently, Yurii Vernydub's side are in 6th spot in the standings and continue to fight for European competitions with Polissia and Karpaty. In the last rounds, the Kryvyi Rih outfit faced setbacks in matches with the league leaders: they lost to Oleksandriia (0-1) and Dynamo (0-2). In total, the Red-and-Whites scored only 2 goals and earned 4 points in 6 games of the spring part of the season. The team's most prolific player in the UPL is striker Yehor Tverdokhlib (9 goals).

Match background

Shakhtar and Kryvabs played 47 matches in the Ukrainian championships: the orange-and-Blacks won 32 times, 9 clashes ended in a draw, with the Kryvi Rih side proving stronger on 6 occasions. Total goal difference: 93-29 in favour of the Miners.

Kryvbas vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Denys Shurman. Assistants – Semen Shlonchak and Oleksii Myronov. VAR – Vitalii Skoblia.