Epicentr vs Shakhtar: match preview
Saturday, August 8, 2026
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Shakhtar to play Epicentr away in the UPL round 2
August 9, Kamianets-Podilskyi, H. Tonkocheiev Stadium, 15:30
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV
Match build-up
Shakhtar moved to the top of the league at the very start of the season, thrashing Kudrivka at the Arena Lviv (5-1). The star of the match was the Miners’ forward Kaua Elias, who scored the first hat-trick of his career, while fellow Brazilians Alisson and Luca Meirelles also found the net. Two debutants also deserve a mention: Gleiker Mendoza made his first official appearance in the Orange-and-Blacks’ shirt, while Academy graduate Oleksandr Karavaiev also debuted for the senior team.
Arda Turan’s side prepared for the upcoming match by training in Lviv. The Miners have no suspended players, so they head into Sunday’s match with a full-strength squad, apart from those sidelined through injury. It is worth noting that Shakhtar can extend their unbeaten run in away matches, which currently stands at 23 games (15 wins and 8 draws). The orange-and-blacks also have the chance to keep a clean sheet for the 500th time in the UPL.
Opponents
Epicentr also made a confident start to the new season, beating Kyiv side Obolon (3-0) in the opening round through two penalties from Cifuentes and a goal from Mykola Myroniuk from open play. Interestingly, all three goals scored by Serhii Nahorniak’s side came in the second half. The club were active in the transfer market over the summer, with six new signings making their debuts in the very first match: Albanian defender Serjan Repaj, Spanish midfielders Raúl Tavares and Daniel Bodega, and Ukrainians Artem Kozak, Maksym Yevpak and Vitalii Horin. In addition, the team are currently on a club-record eight-match unbeaten run in the Ukrainian Premier League (2 wins and 6 draws).
Match background
The sides have met twice in the Ukrainian Premier League, with the Miners winning both matches. Total goal difference: 6-0 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.
Previous meeting
On December 14, 2025, the teams met in the UPL at the Arena Lviv. The Miners were comfortably in control of the game, turning their dominance into five goals. Pedrinho scored from the penalty spot and Newertton found the net early on, while Kaua Elias and Meirelles added a goal and a brace respectively after the break. 5-0 – a win for the Pitmen.
The Epicentr vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a refereeing team led by Roman Blavatskyi. Assistants – Vasyl Ostapchuk and Vladyslav Drykin. VAR – Andrii Kovalenko. VAR assistant – Oleksandr Korniiko.
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV
Match build-up
Shakhtar moved to the top of the league at the very start of the season, thrashing Kudrivka at the Arena Lviv (5-1). The star of the match was the Miners’ forward Kaua Elias, who scored the first hat-trick of his career, while fellow Brazilians Alisson and Luca Meirelles also found the net. Two debutants also deserve a mention: Gleiker Mendoza made his first official appearance in the Orange-and-Blacks’ shirt, while Academy graduate Oleksandr Karavaiev also debuted for the senior team.
Arda Turan’s side prepared for the upcoming match by training in Lviv. The Miners have no suspended players, so they head into Sunday’s match with a full-strength squad, apart from those sidelined through injury. It is worth noting that Shakhtar can extend their unbeaten run in away matches, which currently stands at 23 games (15 wins and 8 draws). The orange-and-blacks also have the chance to keep a clean sheet for the 500th time in the UPL.
Opponents
Epicentr also made a confident start to the new season, beating Kyiv side Obolon (3-0) in the opening round through two penalties from Cifuentes and a goal from Mykola Myroniuk from open play. Interestingly, all three goals scored by Serhii Nahorniak’s side came in the second half. The club were active in the transfer market over the summer, with six new signings making their debuts in the very first match: Albanian defender Serjan Repaj, Spanish midfielders Raúl Tavares and Daniel Bodega, and Ukrainians Artem Kozak, Maksym Yevpak and Vitalii Horin. In addition, the team are currently on a club-record eight-match unbeaten run in the Ukrainian Premier League (2 wins and 6 draws).
Match background
The sides have met twice in the Ukrainian Premier League, with the Miners winning both matches. Total goal difference: 6-0 in favour of the Orange-and-Blacks.
Previous meeting
On December 14, 2025, the teams met in the UPL at the Arena Lviv. The Miners were comfortably in control of the game, turning their dominance into five goals. Pedrinho scored from the penalty spot and Newertton found the net early on, while Kaua Elias and Meirelles added a goal and a brace respectively after the break. 5-0 – a win for the Pitmen.
The Epicentr vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by a refereeing team led by Roman Blavatskyi. Assistants – Vasyl Ostapchuk and Vladyslav Drykin. VAR – Andrii Kovalenko. VAR assistant – Oleksandr Korniiko.