- Team form: Kryvbas have won three and lost two of their last five games, while Poltava have failed to win any of their last five, drawing two and losing three.
- Away stats: Kryvbas score an average of 1.25 goals per away game and concede 1.58 goals.
- Home form: At home, Poltava have won one, drawn two and lost nine of their 12 Premier League games.
Two sides, two styles
Tactical contrast
SK Poltava’s practical, survival-first style will be tested when they play host to a high-pressing, possession-heavy Kryvbas side on Friday night. The visitors’ style of play could overwhelm a team who play a more conservative style, with a deep midfield, short and direct transitions and aggression from set pieces.
Form and key figures
Patrick van Leeuwen has turned Kryvbas around since taking over in June 2025, instilling an attacking, pressing game which is fluid and tactically clear. They travel to Poltava having suffered a 5-6 home defeat to Dynamo Kyiv last time out, but also off the back of an emphatic 3-0 win at Rukh Lviv.
Gleiker Mendoza has been in fine form in recent weeks, scoring four times in his last five appearances, and will be a constant threat in the box for Kryvbas on Friday.
Betting and prediction
Poltava are a long shot to win the match at 6.3, while Kryvbas are the heavy favorites at 1.42. Given the contrasting form of these two sides, we can’t see Kryvbas slipping up and will be backing them to overcome the home side’s stubborn defense on Friday.
Poltava’s poor home record
The hosts have failed to win their last two, drawing 1-1 away to Obolon Kyiv and losing 2-0 away to FC Kolos Kovalivka, and home has hardly been a fortress this season. SK Poltava have won just one of their 12 home matches, drawing two and losing nine, and have scored just nine goals across those games.
Pavlo Matviychenko has a tough job on his hands after being appointed in July 2025 and tasked with keeping the club up. SK Poltava sit 16th in the Ukrainian Premier League 2025-2026 table after picking up just 11 points from 25 games, a number that has been accumulating since they were promoted last season.
FC Kryvbas Kriviy Rih, in contrast, have had a fine season and remain in the hunt for European football, sitting 7th with 40 points from 25 matches. Kryvbas won their most recent away fixture and will hope to extend this against a home side who have scored just 0.75 goals per home game in the league.
- Gleiker Mendoza has been in fine form in recent weeks, scoring four times in his last five appearances, and will be a constant threat in the box for Kryvbas on Friday.
- Maksim Marusich has three goals in 15 appearances in the league this season and remains Poltava’s main threat, but they will have to make do with what they can get on the counter-attack.
- Kryvbas won their most recent away fixture and will hope to extend this against a home side who have scored just 0.75 goals per home game in the league.
Go for goals
Kryvbas average 1.25 goals away from home and concede 1.58 goals away from home. This makes the ‘Over 2.5 goals’ market very attractive at 1.55, particularly with Poltava’s attacking output and Kryvbas’ high-scoring games taken into account.
Maksim Marusich has three goals in 15 appearances in the league this season and remains Poltava’s main threat, but they will have to make do with what they can get on the counter-attack. Kryvbas have the better form, better quality and have shown their ability to do the business on the road recently, so we’re backing them to get the win against the hosts.
