Shakhtar vs LNZ: match preview
Sunday, September 20, 2026
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Shakhtar will host LNZ on the UPL MD7
September 20, Lviv, Arena Lviv, 18:00
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV
Match build-up
Shakhtar continue to share the lead in the league, having collected 15 points from 6 matches (goal difference: 12-4). In the previous round, the Miners confidently beat Chornomorets (2-0) through goals from Oleh Ocheretko and Luca Meirelles. Earlier this week, the Orange-and-Blacks also played their Ukrainian Cup Round of 32 tie against Vilkhivtsi and secured an away win (3-0). Arda Turan made extensive changes to the line-up for this match: Academy graduate Denys Smetana and Brazilian newcomers Rayan Roberto and Bruninho made their first-team debuts, while two more young midfielders – Gabriel Carvalho and Viktor Tsukanov – scored their first goals for the senior side. It should also be noted that Pitmen’s top scorers so far are Kaua Elias and Luca Meirelles (3 goals each). Also worth noting is midfielder Pedrinho’s return to training with the team.
Opponents
LNZ, who finished as UPL runners-up last season, began the new campaign back in July with UEFA Conference League qualifying matches, where they were knocked out by Belgian side Gent on penalties after two goalless draws. Vitalii Ponomarov’s side have also had a difficult start to their league campaign: after 6 rounds, they have 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, so the Cherkasy side sit 8th in the table with 8 points (goal difference: 5-5). In the previous round, the team beat Obolon (3-1) at home through goals from their foreign players – Talles, Ndiaga and Cara. Midweek, the Cherkasy side also secured their place in the Ukrainian Cup Round of 16, eliminating Bukovyna on penalties.
Match background
Shakhtar and LNZ have met 5 times in the Ukrainian league: 4 wins for the Miners, 1 draw and 1 victory for the Cherkasy side. Total goal difference: 18-8 in favour of the Pitmen.
Previous meeting
On April 13, the sides met in a UPL match in Cherkasy. The main events of the match unfolded in the first half. In the 11th minutes, an own goal by Riabov put the Miners ahead. Although Horin equalised in the 28th minute, Eguinaldo restored Shakhtar’s lead in the 34th. However, Assinor’s goal a minute before the break levelled the score again. There were no further goals in the second half, so the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Shakhtar vs LNZ match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Denys Shurman. Assistants – Viktor Nyzhnyk and Oleksandr Dashko. VAR – Oleksii Derevinskyi. VAR assistant – Dmytro Zaporozhenko.
The live broadcast will be available on UPL.TV
Match build-up
Shakhtar continue to share the lead in the league, having collected 15 points from 6 matches (goal difference: 12-4). In the previous round, the Miners confidently beat Chornomorets (2-0) through goals from Oleh Ocheretko and Luca Meirelles. Earlier this week, the Orange-and-Blacks also played their Ukrainian Cup Round of 32 tie against Vilkhivtsi and secured an away win (3-0). Arda Turan made extensive changes to the line-up for this match: Academy graduate Denys Smetana and Brazilian newcomers Rayan Roberto and Bruninho made their first-team debuts, while two more young midfielders – Gabriel Carvalho and Viktor Tsukanov – scored their first goals for the senior side. It should also be noted that Pitmen’s top scorers so far are Kaua Elias and Luca Meirelles (3 goals each). Also worth noting is midfielder Pedrinho’s return to training with the team.
Opponents
LNZ, who finished as UPL runners-up last season, began the new campaign back in July with UEFA Conference League qualifying matches, where they were knocked out by Belgian side Gent on penalties after two goalless draws. Vitalii Ponomarov’s side have also had a difficult start to their league campaign: after 6 rounds, they have 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, so the Cherkasy side sit 8th in the table with 8 points (goal difference: 5-5). In the previous round, the team beat Obolon (3-1) at home through goals from their foreign players – Talles, Ndiaga and Cara. Midweek, the Cherkasy side also secured their place in the Ukrainian Cup Round of 16, eliminating Bukovyna on penalties.
Match background
Shakhtar and LNZ have met 5 times in the Ukrainian league: 4 wins for the Miners, 1 draw and 1 victory for the Cherkasy side. Total goal difference: 18-8 in favour of the Pitmen.
Previous meeting
On April 13, the sides met in a UPL match in Cherkasy. The main events of the match unfolded in the first half. In the 11th minutes, an own goal by Riabov put the Miners ahead. Although Horin equalised in the 28th minute, Eguinaldo restored Shakhtar’s lead in the 34th. However, Assinor’s goal a minute before the break levelled the score again. There were no further goals in the second half, so the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Shakhtar vs LNZ match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Denys Shurman. Assistants – Viktor Nyzhnyk and Oleksandr Dashko. VAR – Oleksii Derevinskyi. VAR assistant – Dmytro Zaporozhenko.