Preview

October 30, Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, 17:00

Match build-up

The teams' schedule in October was tightened by the cup meetings that have taken place this week. Shakhtar beat Chornomorets 3-0 in Odesa and advanced to the quarter-finals. And before that, Roberto De Zerbi's men won another away match against Vorskla in the league (2-0). The Orange-and-Blacks sit in the second spot and continue pursuing Dynamo who have three points more.

Ahead of the match against Desna, the Miners dedicated their time to recovery, worked on tactical aspects and various game situations. Mykola Matviienko and Taras Stepanenko are in the general group. Pedrinho does not train yet – the head coach spoke about his absence and recovery term in the interview. Alan Patrick will not play on Saturday either.

The Shakhtar vs Desna match will be held in the presence of spectators. You can buy tickets online, on the FC Shakhtar app or at the ticket office.

Preliminary squad list

Goalkeepers: Shevchenko, Pyatov, Trubin

Defenders: Dodo, Kryvtsov, Marlon, Matviienko, Konoplia, Ismaily, Bondar

Midfielders: Stepanenko, Maycon, Marcos Antonio, Marlos, Tete, Bondarenko, Solomon, Mudryk, Sudakov

Forwards: Dentinho, Sikan, Fernando

Opponents

Desna finished fourth in the 2019/20 season and sixth in the 2020/21 one, currently sititng in the ninth spot, just a point adrift of Oleksandriia who have the sixth position. After a good start (4 wins in a row), the team went through a series of defeats and draws. In the previous four rounds, Oleksandr Ryabokon's charges scored two points (0-0 vs Minaj away and 1-1 vs Oleksandriia at home after failures vs Metalist 1925 and Zorya).

In this league campaign, Desna have scored 14 goals. Nearly half of them (6) belong to Denys Bezborodko who put his name on the scoresheet in the last round vs Oleksandriia. Andrii Totovytskyi, Vladyslav Kalitvintsev and Taras Zaviiskyi have scored two goals each.

Head-to-head record

Shakhtar claimed seven wins over Desna, with one match ending in a draw. Goal difference is 18-6.

Previous league meeting

On March 14, the Miners secured a major win at the NSC Olimpiyskiy. Early in the game, Moraes made Past work by his overhead kick, then the Desna keeper coped with an easy attempt by Maycon, and in the 34th minute Shakhtar earned a penalty kick that was converted by Tete. The Brazilian grabbed a brace in the second half after Manor Solomon scored twice, making it 4-0.