Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
The Matchday 30 fixture of the Ukrainian Premier League will take place this Saturday at the Arena Lviv, where local side Rukh will host Shakhtar Donetsk. Here’s a betting tip for the outcome of this clash, offering solid chances for success.
Match preview
Leonid Kuchuk’s men approach the final round of the season in seventh place, with no opportunity to climb higher, but their position is far from secure. In this last match, Rukh will play not just for points, but for pride—especially with the game being held at Arena Lviv. Zorya, level on points, and Veres, trailing by just two, are both hot on their heels.
Rukh’s main trump card this season has been their defense: only three teams in the league have conceded fewer goals, thanks in large part to a well-organized back line. However, their attacking output leaves much to be desired—29 goals in 29 matches tells its own story. Rukh have often looked overly cautious, which has stifled their attacking threat. Last weekend’s 0-1 defeat to Levyi Bereh was another example, with little to show up front.
The 2024/25 season has been a painful one for the Miners—Shakhtar risk finishing outside the top two for the first time in 29 years. But the loss of league motivation didn’t affect their ambitions in the Ukrainian Cup, where they defeated Dynamo in the final to secure a direct ticket to the Europa League. With a coaching change on the horizon, Marino Pušić is clearly eager to sign off on a high, and the team are putting in confident performances—especially in attack, where the Brazilian core is once again setting the pace.
Shakhtar are the league’s top scorers this season, making them favorites in nearly every matchup, regardless of opponent. After the winter break, the team have noticeably improved their tempo, organization, and finishing—crucial as rivals have stumbled. Even with some defensive instability, the Miners have the firepower to outgun anyone, as they showed in their last match against Inhulets—a 4-1 victory.
Probable lineups
- Rukh Lviv: Klymenko Y., Kytela A., Slyubyk B., Kholod V., Roman V., Pidhurskyi D., Runych V., Didyk R., Pastukh Y., Karabin Y., Faal B.
- Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk D., Tobias V., Bondar V., Matviyenko N., Enrique P., Marlon Gomes, Pedrinho, Bondarenko A., Sudakov H., Kevin, Egwinaldo.
Match facts and head-to-head
- The first-round fixture ended in a 1-1 draw
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet has landed in three of Shakhtar’s last five matches
- The "Both teams to score" bet has come through in three of the last five as well
Prediction
Bookmakers are firmly backing Shakhtar and offer odds of around 1.55 for an away win. We believe the Miners will prevail here, so our bet is "Shakhtar to win."
