Alexandria vs Kryvbas: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 23.05.2026
Kryvbas
One of the fixtures of the 30th round of the Ukrainian Premier League will be played on Saturday at the Nika Stadium in Alexandria, where the local side Alexandria will host Kryvbas. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash: the visitors have looked more stable over the course of the season, but the hosts have received a late emotional boost.
Match preview
Alexandria had a disastrous season and have already secured their spot as one of the two worst teams in the Ukrainian championship, but the final round still means something for them. In their previous match, they finally tasted victory by beating Rukh 3-1, and before that, they put up competitive fights against Zorya and Polissya, losing both 1-2.
The team has had its share of collapses - such as the hopeless 0-3 loss to Kolos - but a 1-1 draw with Epicentr showed that Alexandria is capable of dominating and stepping up in the second half. The return of Kampush and Skorko after suspension should provide the home side with more stability, especially with the season finale played in front of their fans.
Kryvbas had a much stronger campaign and head into the last round in seventh place, still in with a chance to climb as high as fifth. In their last outing, they gave Shakhtar a real fight but narrowly lost 2-3, and before that, they confidently defeated Veres 3-1 and ended Karpaty's unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory.
Patrick van Leeuwen’s team plays attacking football and isn't afraid of open games, as seen in their wild encounters with SC Poltava (3-3) and Dynamo (5-6). The loss of Zaderaka presents both a selection and a foreign-player limit puzzle for the coaching staff, but in terms of squad quality and current structure, Kryvbas still looks the more complete side.
Probable lineups
- Alexandria: Makarenko, Skorko, Kampush, Beiratche, Ogarkov, Vashchenko, Mishnev, Buletsa, Yade, Castillo, Tsara.
- Kryvbas: Kemkin, Yurchets, Vilivald, Jones, Bekavats, Araujo, Shevchenko, Giovanni, Mendoza, Mulik, Sek.
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first half of the season, Kryvbas thrashed Alexandria 3-0.
- Over the last five head-to-head meetings, Alexandria have won three times, while Kryvbas have two victories.
- Kryvbas have scored 14 goals in their last five UPL matches, including high-scoring games against Dynamo, Poltava and Shakhtar.
Prediction
After their win over Rukh, Alexandria have a chance to finish the season on a less gloomy note, but throughout the campaign they've too often collapsed defensively and lost control of matches. Even the return of key defenders does not guarantee stability against opponents who exploit space and punish mistakes quickly. Kryvbas look stronger, deeper, and more confident in their playing model. The visitors are inconsistent defensively, but their attacking potential and motivation to climb the table make backing the Kryvyi Rih side the more logical bet.
