Liam Garcia
Dailysports's expert
On May 14, 2025, the central stadium in Zhytomyr will host the Ukrainian Cup final between Shakhtar and Dynamo. All signs point to a high-scoring showdown in this clash.
Preview
One of the fiercest matchups on the Ukrainian football calendar — the Ukrainian Cup final between Shakhtar and Dynamo — promises to deliver a fitting conclusion to the tournament. The two most decorated clubs in the competition's history meet once again to battle for the trophy: Shakhtar currently boasts 14 Cup victories, while Dynamo sits close behind with 13.
The Kyiv side approaches the final as the more cohesive and consistent team this season. With two rounds left in the UPL campaign, Dynamo needs just a single point to clinch the league title. Meanwhile, Shakhtar failed to mount a title challenge and is likely to finish the season only in third place — a result that hardly meets the lofty standards of the Donetsk club.
Both teams started their Cup campaigns from the Round of 16, navigating three matches each en route to the final. Under Marino Pušić, Shakhtar has showcased a pragmatic style, securing three narrow 1-0 victories over Zorya, Oleksandriya, and Polissya. The Miners needed extra time to get past the last two opponents.
Dynamo also had to battle through extra time: in the Round of 16, the Kyiv side edged Vorskla thanks to an overtime goal — 2:1. In the next round, they narrowly beat Rukh (1:0), and in the semifinal, they cruised past First League side Bukovyna with a confident 4:1 win.
Shakhtar vs Dynamo finals are always charged with context and tension. This is more than just a trophy match — it's a duel of history, ambition, and prestige. For Shakhtar, it's a chance to salvage a disappointing season; for Dynamo, an opportunity to confirm their progress and potentially complete a golden double.
Probable line-ups
- Shakhtar: Riznyk, Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, Pedro Henrique, Kryskiv, Gomez, Bondarenko, Kevin, Pedrinho, Einaldo
- Dynamo: Neshcheret, Tymchyk, Popov, Mykhavko, Dubinchak, Mykhailenko, Shaparenko, Buyalskyi, Kabaev, Yarmolenko, Vanat
Match facts and H2H
- Both Shakhtar vs Dynamo meetings this season ended in high-scoring draws — 1:1 and 2:2.
- The teams have met 10 times in Ukrainian Cup finals, with an even split — five wins each.
- Their last Cup final clash was in 2018, when Shakhtar won 2:0.
- Dynamo is unbeaten since the end of 2024 — their last loss came against Real Sociedad (0:3) in the Conference League.
- Shakhtar has suffered two defeats in 2025 — against Borussia Dortmund (1:3) and Kolos (2:4).
Prediction
Given both teams' attacking potential and the history of their recent encounters, it's only logical to expect another goal-filled final. Our pick: both teams to score at odds of 1.79, which looks solid considering the games we've witnessed this season.
