Metalist 1925 vs Chernihiv: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 22.04.2026
FC Kharkiv
Chernihiv
One of the Ukrainian Cup semifinals will take place on Wednesday at the Kolos Stadium in Kovalivka, where Metalist 1925 will clash with Chernihiv. Let’s break down a bet for the outcome of this showdown, taking into account the current form of both teams.
Match preview
Metalist 1925 approach the semifinal in a focused mood and solid form. In recent rounds, they have notched up consecutive wins over Kudrivka (1:0), Veres (4:0), Dynamo Kyiv (1:0), and earlier calmly took care of SK Poltava (2:0). This streak is not just impressive, it’s a mark of maturity: minimal nerves, maximum discipline, and top-notch work off the ball.
Especially impressive is how Metalist 1925 perform at home. Six straight victories on their own turf, including a cup tie against Lokomotyv Kyiv (3:0), speak volumes about a side that knows how to switch on when it matters and control the tempo of these encounters. Right now, the Kharkiv side have all the hallmarks of a cup favorite: they don’t waste chances and barely allow their opponents any breathing room.
Chernihiv enter this match with a much more inconsistent rhythm, though they shouldn’t be written off entirely. They recently edged Niva Ternopil (1:0) and previously routed Levyi Bereh (4:0), but in between suffered defeats to Metalist Kharkiv (1:2) and Bukovyna (0:1), and in the last round played out a goalless draw with Podillia. This suggests the visitors can be organized, but they too often hit the ceiling of their own attacking potential.
The main concern for Chernihiv is their away record. In their last six away matches, they haven’t won a single game, settling for three draws and three defeats, and in the cup their trend is towards low-scoring football. Up against an opponent that presses from the opening minutes at home and knows how to shut the game down after scoring, this looks particularly problematic.
Probable lineups
- Metalist 1925: Varakuta, Martyniuk, Dubko, Pavliuk, Salyuk, Kalyuzhnyi, Antyukh, Lytvynenko, Kohut, Ari Moura, Itodo
- Chernihiv: Tatarenko, Bubik, Galstyan, Porokhnya, Romanchenko, Serdyuk, Zenchenko, Bezborodko, Kartushov, Shalfeyev, Shushko
Match facts and head-to-head
- Metalist 1925 have won four of their last five matches, keeping a clean sheet in each of those victories
- Chernihiv have not won any of their last six away games, picking up only three draws and suffering three defeats
- There have been no official head-to-head meetings between Metalist 1925 and Chernihiv before
Prediction
All signs point to a match where the favorite should do the job with minimal fuss. Metalist 1925 currently look more mature, compact, and far more convincing in terms of controlling the tempo, while Chernihiv on the road too often play reactively rather than dictating play. The basic scenario here is a home win in a cautious cup tie, where a single goal could decide it, but overall, the Kharkiv side look much more solid.
