Clash of the favorites: prediction for Shakhtar's game against Dynamo in the Ukrainian Cup
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, will bring Ukrainian football fans the headline clash of the entire autumn stage of the Ukrainian Cup, as Shakhtar Donetsk take on Dynamo Kyiv at Arena Lviv in the round of 16. This fiercely contested classic derby leaves no room for error, with the single-match format raising the stakes even higher: the winner advances to the quarterfinals, while the defeated side's fight for the cup trophy ends prematurely.
Shakhtar Donetsk head into this grand cup showdown in excellent form and riding a major emotional high, performing confidently both in the domestic league and on the international stage. The Miners have been displaying balanced, efficient and fast-paced football built around possession, collective pressing and the high individual quality of their attacking players. Under the guidance of the coaching staff, the Donetsk side will look to make full use of their cohesion and squad stability to overcome their fierce rivals and avenge their setbacks in last season's head-to-head cup meetings.
Dynamo Kyiv are going through a period of turbulence and rapid change following a painful 1-3 defeat by Polissya, which led to Ihor Kostiuk's dismissal. Polish coach Maciej Kędziorek was appointed as the new head coach, and under his leadership the capital club have already played one league match, securing a convincing 3-1 victory over Kudrivka. The personnel and emotional shake-up has given Dynamo additional momentum, but the match against the Miners will be the new coach's first and most serious test of his and the team's resilience this season.
The tactical script for the upcoming cup Clasico will be shaped by the battle for initiative in midfield and high intensity from the opening minutes. Shakhtar will look to take control of possession, use quick combination play and exploit the flanks to stretch their opponents' defense. Dynamo, under Maciej Kędziorek, will respond with a disciplined mid-block, close marking in central areas and instant counterattacks launched through quick vertical passes. The enormous cost of any mistake, the sky-high motivation of both teams and the neutral-venue factor should produce a tense contest with a slight edge for the Donetsk side.
Prediction
I expect a hard-fought and uncompromising game with few goals. My prediction: under 3 goals at 1.52
