- Away form: Polissya Zhytomyr have avoided defeat in 1 away game in Premier League 2026/2027 (W1, L0).
- Home form: Shakhtar Donetsk are undefeated at home in Premier League 2026/2027 (W1) having scored 5 goals in 1 match.
- Recent run: Shakhtar Donetsk have won 5 of their last 5 matches (D0, L0).
Chess match anticipated in Ukraine
A clash of styles will see Shakhtar Donetsk and Polissya Zhytomyr face off at the Stadion NSK Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine, this Saturday.
Shakhtar Donetsk sit 2nd in the Premier League 2026/2027 standings with 9 points from 3 games, while Polissya are 5th with 6 points from the same amount of games, keeping themselves in the European race. Shakhtar have won 5 matches in a row, whereas Polissya have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches.
The last head-to-head between these two teams in the Premier League 2025/2026 saw Shakhtar Donetsk come away with a 1-0 win four months ago, but Polissya have won three of the last five matchups overall.
Polissya have bite, can nick a result
Tactical approaches:
Arda Turan has had a positive impact on Shakhtar Donetsk since taking over on 1 July 2025, with the Miners playing in a very controlled and structured manner with control of the ball and the tempo being the aim. Relying on a sturdy defence and a disciplined structure allows them to play in a possession-first way, ensuring they always have numbers behind the ball.
Polissya are a different proposition in that they are a little more direct, but still have structure and a good pressing game. Since Ruslan Rotan took over on 1 June 2025, Polissya have become more proactive and their players have been more inclined to play a vertical game, as well as pressing higher up the field.
Key players:
Igor Krasnopir has been in good form for Polissya with two goals in three Premier League 2026/2027 matches, providing a sharp edge in the box. Bogdan Mykhaylychenko has shown a touch of quality this season with two assists in three Premier League 2026/2027 games, offering a touch of creativity from wider areas.
Shakhtar are hotter, but Polissya can cause some problems
The odds on Shakhtar Donetsk to win is 1.84 and Polissya are 4.26, making the Wolves the long shot in the game.
We think Polissya will keep it competitive and are going with the underdog to avoid defeat in our main prediction, although a Shakhtar win does look likelier. However, with Polissya being a decent team that can get their turnovers, a low-scoring affair looks likely.
- Kaua Elias is the main threat in Shakhtar's team with three goals in three matches, while Polissya's top-scorer Igor Krasnopir has two goals in three matches.
- Shakhtar are a very consistent and efficient side, which can win anywhere, as the Miners' two away wins, 2-0 at FC Epitsentr Dunayivtsi and 1-0 at FC Kharkiv, have shown.
- Under 2.5 goals at 1.82 is the choice in this matchup, as a low-scoring game looks the smart bet with Shakhtar's tempo control and the pressing game of Polissya set to make this a bit of a chess match.
