Preview

March 8, Kopyly, UTB Poltava, 13:00
 
Before the match
 
Following the performance results in 22 rounds, Shakhtar U21 have scored 46 points, sharing the top spot with Dynamo U21. A week before, Valeriy Kryventsov's lads proved stronger in an important clash with Karpaty.
 
Opponents
 
Vorskla U21 sit in the sixth league spot with 37 points (goal difference of 33-24). The Poltava team won 10 games, with 7 draws and 5 defeats. They managed to end up among the top six sides after the first stage through their victory over Chornomorets in the previous round (4-1). The team’s current top scorer Maksym Kulish (5 goals) netted one of the goals in that encounter.
 
Head-to-head record
 
In the U21 league, the opponents have had 27 meetings. The Miners claimed 14 wins, the Poltava team won on 9 occasions, with 4 draws. The goal difference is 58-42 in favour of Shakhtar U21. In the current league season, the sides have played twice and exchanged away victories: Shakhtar proved stronger in Poltava (3-1) but suffered a home defeat (1-2).