- Home form: Obolon Kiev are unbeaten in their last 3 home matches but have drawn all three.
- Away form: Epitsentr Dunayivtsi have drawn their last 3 consecutive matches including an away 3-3 thriller against Veres Rivne.
An important lower-table clash in the Ukrainian Premier League
Obolon Kiev are 11th in the Premier League 2025/2026 table having picked up 27 points from 26 matches, whilst Epitsentr Dunayivtsi are just one place behind in 12th with 26 points.
Obolon Kiev have had the better of the recent head-to-head records between these two clubs across all competitions with 1 win and 1 draw, while Epitsentr have yet to claim a victory. In their most recent meeting in the Persha Liga 2022/2023, Obolon Kiev claimed a 2-1 victory at home.
Obolon Kiev’s solid structure and Epitsentr’s tenacious counter-play
Obolon Kiev’s structure and approach
Obolon Kiev are a pragmatic team with a solid structure that provides flexibility in the number of players defending in the back line (3 or 5 men), allowing them to overload the wings with their wing-backs and pressing in blocks to try to win the ball back in quick transitions. Aleksandr Antonenko has been able to adapt the side well since his appointment as manager, with Denys Ustymenko providing an aerial threat up top with 6 goals in 24 league appearances this season.
Epitsentr’s defensive block and counter-play
Epitsentr Dunayivtsi set up with a deep, compact 4-man defence which aims to stifle the central areas and provide more players in the second defensive line to counter-attack in the right moments in the game. Sergiy Nagornyak has done well with the team so far, especially considering the run of 3 consecutive draws which has seen Carlos Rojas score 2 of the 5 goals.
Form, prediction and odds
It’s likely we will see an interesting chess match between Obolon Kiev’s wing play and pressing game and Epitsentr’s rigid defensive block and counter-play. I expect a close game with chances at both ends but the defensive discipline of both sides means that only 1 team is likely to get on the scoresheet, so I am supporting the tie with over 2.5 goals.
Odds for the main selection are 3.21 for the Draw, with ‘Both Teams to Score - No’ at 1.91 and ‘Over 2.5 goals’ at 2.08.
- The form of both teams is comparable with Epitsentr having the better record in their last 5 matches (W1, D3, L1) and Obolon Kiev struggling for wins (D3, L2).
- The visitors have failed to win their last 2 away games, drawing once and losing once.
