Zorya vs Shakhtar: match preview
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
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Shakhtar to play Zorya Luhansk in the postponed UPL round 21 match
April 23, Kyiv, V. Lobanovskyi Dynamo, 15:30
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV
Match build-up
Shakhtar are leading the UPL outright with 54 points after 23 matches (goal difference: 54-14). Arda Turan’s side went top of the table once again following Sunday’s victory over one of their main rivals Polissia Zhytomyr (1-0). The decisive moment in that encounter was a goal from centre-back Valerii Bondar – his third of the current season. Notably, the assist came from the team’s top provider Alisson, for whom it was already his 10th assist. The Orange-and-Blacks’ leading scorers remain Brazilian forwards Kaua Elias (11 goals) and Luca Meirelles (10).
Midfielder Oleh Ocheretko will miss the match due to an accumulation of bookings. It is worth noting that Shakhtar continue to operate on a very demanding schedule, with matches every three days. This week, the Miners also face Kudrivka in the UPL, followed by a two-legged UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final tie against English side Crystal Palace, as well as the Ukrainian Clasico against Dynamo.
Opponents
Zorya recorded 8 wins, 8 draws and 7 losses in 23 rounds and sit 9th in the league table with 32 points (goal difference: 32-30). Viktor Skrypnyk’s side are now almost safe from the relegation battle (an 11-point gap to the play-off zone), but are also unlikely to break into the race for European places (a 12-point deficit). As throughout the season, the Luhansk side have been alternating results in the spring phase: they have a draw with Obolon (3-3), a win over Epicentr (1-0) and a defeat to Dynamo (1-3) in three April rounds. The team’s top scorers are forward Pylyp Budkivskyi (11 goals) and Bosnian midfielder Nemanja Andjusic (7).
Match background
Shakhtar and Zorya faced each other 54 times in the Ukrainian Championship: the Miners recorded 42 wins, 5 matches ended in draws and Zorya won 7 times. Total goal difference: 128-38 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.
Previous meeting
On September 22, 2025, the teams met in the first half of the UPL season at the Arena Lviv. The Miners dominated throughout the match and eventually secured a late victory in the 87th minute through a goal from Isaque – 1-0.
The Zorya vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a refereeing team led by Dmytro Panchyshyn. Assistants – Volodymyr Dumenko and Yaroslav Povazhnyi. VAR – Ihor Paskhal. VAR assistant – Valentyn Kutsev.
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV
Match build-up
Shakhtar are leading the UPL outright with 54 points after 23 matches (goal difference: 54-14). Arda Turan’s side went top of the table once again following Sunday’s victory over one of their main rivals Polissia Zhytomyr (1-0). The decisive moment in that encounter was a goal from centre-back Valerii Bondar – his third of the current season. Notably, the assist came from the team’s top provider Alisson, for whom it was already his 10th assist. The Orange-and-Blacks’ leading scorers remain Brazilian forwards Kaua Elias (11 goals) and Luca Meirelles (10).
Midfielder Oleh Ocheretko will miss the match due to an accumulation of bookings. It is worth noting that Shakhtar continue to operate on a very demanding schedule, with matches every three days. This week, the Miners also face Kudrivka in the UPL, followed by a two-legged UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final tie against English side Crystal Palace, as well as the Ukrainian Clasico against Dynamo.
Opponents
Zorya recorded 8 wins, 8 draws and 7 losses in 23 rounds and sit 9th in the league table with 32 points (goal difference: 32-30). Viktor Skrypnyk’s side are now almost safe from the relegation battle (an 11-point gap to the play-off zone), but are also unlikely to break into the race for European places (a 12-point deficit). As throughout the season, the Luhansk side have been alternating results in the spring phase: they have a draw with Obolon (3-3), a win over Epicentr (1-0) and a defeat to Dynamo (1-3) in three April rounds. The team’s top scorers are forward Pylyp Budkivskyi (11 goals) and Bosnian midfielder Nemanja Andjusic (7).
Match background
Shakhtar and Zorya faced each other 54 times in the Ukrainian Championship: the Miners recorded 42 wins, 5 matches ended in draws and Zorya won 7 times. Total goal difference: 128-38 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.
Previous meeting
On September 22, 2025, the teams met in the first half of the UPL season at the Arena Lviv. The Miners dominated throughout the match and eventually secured a late victory in the 87th minute through a goal from Isaque – 1-0.
The Zorya vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a refereeing team led by Dmytro Panchyshyn. Assistants – Volodymyr Dumenko and Yaroslav Povazhnyi. VAR – Ihor Paskhal. VAR assistant – Valentyn Kutsev.