Dynamo will face Shakhtar Donetsk. Match starts at 19:30.
Dynamo: no right for mistake
The White and Blues have no right for mistake in the second part of the current season. Each point may be vital for Oleh Blokhin’s men who are to secure the Champions League spot. Dynamo assistant coach Serhiy Rebrov stated: “We must win every game, no matter who our opponents are. Each point is important for us to finish second”.
Kyivans’ halfback Miguel Veloso has the same opinion: “Each game is like the final one for us. We must win every match to finish second this season”.
At the moment Dynamo are second in the tournament bracket, so their task is simple and difficult at the same time – they must win not to pay attention to their opponents’ games.
The main problem for Oleh Blokhin before the home match against Shakhtar is Yevhen Khacheridi’s suspension. Croatian halfback Niko Kranjcar is injured, so he also won’t be able to help his team.
Andriy Yarmolenko, Oleh Husiev and Lukman Haruna will be suspended if they get another yellow card in the next game.
Shakhtar: handicap doesn’t matter…
There were a lot of rumors about Mircea Lucescu’s possible leave-taking as Shakhtar were defeated in Dortmund by Borussia. But despite that Donetsk side authorities have offered him another two-year contract.
The future game will be the first one for Lucescu against Oleh Blokhin.
All Shakhtar players state that the game against Dynamo is very important to them despite their handicap. Razvan Rat has informed: “We don’t need extra motivation when we play against Dynamo. They are our main opponent, so it’s important for us to win”.
Croatian forward Eduardo has already understood the importance of matches against Dynamo: “This game is special for us. This is the main derby of Ukrainian Premier League”.
In their previous match Shakhtar defeated FC Karpaty Lviv 2:1. Alex Teixeira got the red card, so he won’t be able to play against Dynamo. His compatriot Ilsinho is injured and he also won’t take the field.
Face to face
Dynamo and Shakhtar have already played 150 official games against each other throughout the history. Dynamo won 70 of them, Shakhtar – 41. 39 matches ended in a draw. Goal difference is 218:162 in Kyivans’ favor.
As Ukraine became independent the White and Blues faced Shakhtar 42 times (W-18, D-12, L-12; goals scored – 60, goals conceded – 45).
Last time Shakhtar scored in Kyiv on November 11, 2007 (Jadson).
This season Dynamo lost against Donetsk side at Donbass Arena 1:3.
Ukrainian Premier League. Matchday 8
02.09.2012. Donetsk, Donbass Arena stadium, 53 423 spectators.
Shakhtar – Dynamo – 3:1 (1:1).
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Srna (c), Rakitskyi, Kucher (Kryvtsov, 70), Rat, Stepanenko, Fernandinho, Mkhitaryan, Willian (Duglas Costa, 78), Ilsinho (Alex Teixeira, 61), Luiz Adriano.
Dynamo: Koval, Taiwo, Khacheridi, Betao, Danilo Silva, Veloso, Yarmolenko, Harmash, Husiev (c), (Milevskyi, 81), Kranjcar (Raffael, 70), Ideye.
Goals: Kucher (20, 62), Luiz Adriano (81) – Yarmolenko (45, assist – Harmash).
Booked: Mkhitaryan (53), Fernandinho (72), Rat (83) – Ideye (36), Yarmolenko (46), Danilo Silva (76), Veloso (86), Betao (90+4).
