Match preview

21 November, Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, 17:00

Match build-up

There were no league games last weekend due to another international break in club football. The Ukrainians played one UEFA Nations League match instead of the scheduled two games, but this did not affect the number of days the players were absent. Dodo, Maycon, Marcos and Tete played for the Brazil Olympic team, Khocholava and Solomon defended the colours of Georgia and Israel. Luis Castro had to conduct a training process with a limited group of players.

In the 9th round, Shakhtar beat Dynamo 3-0 and moved closer to the Kyiv side, being separated by just one point now. This Saturday afternoon, Mircea Lucescu's team will face Inhulets away, while the Miners will host Oleksandriia, already knowing the outcome of the major rivals’ match. Despite the difficulties associated with the pandemic, the absence of players or the necessity to simultaneously compete in the Champions League, losing points in the UPL is a no-no. Plus Luis Castro reminded again that the league title is the team’s major priority.

We want to point out that Alan Patrick may well make his 100th Premier League appearance. The Brazilian has scored four goals in eight games this season.

Opponents

Oleksandriia are approaching the meeting with the champions in the 7th spot. They are among the most uncompromising teams in the current Championship, with one draw along with four wins and four defeats. Interestingly, until the last round Volodymyr Sharan's team always won when scoring four goals (4-1 vs Mariupol, 4-1 vs Dnipro-1, 4-3 vs Inhulets), but against Lvov it was enough for them to score one goal from the spot (Tretyakov netted it in the 70th minute).

Head-to-head record

The teams met 22 times, Shakhtar won on 18 occasions, along with three draw, and Oleksandriia won once. The goal difference is 44-17 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.

Previous league meeting