Zorya vs Shakhtar: prediction, head-to-head stats and probable lineups — 23.04.2026
In one of the rescheduled matches of the Ukrainian Premier League, Zorya and Shakhtar will clash on Thursday at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Stadium in Kyiv. The Luhansk side come into this game as a solid mid-table team, while the Donetsk giants are locked in a fierce title race and are in peak form, making this encounter a true test for both sides.
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Match preview
Zorya suffered a 1-3 defeat to Dynamo Kyiv in the last round, despite taking an early lead and looking confident at the start. This loss was the team's second of 2026 and snapped their unbeaten streak, revealing that Zorya still lack the resilience needed to challenge the league's top sides.
Nevertheless, Viktor Skrypnyk's men remain a tough opponent thanks to their consistent attacking play. Since the winter break, Zorya have scored in every match, and Pylyp Budkivskyi has already netted ten goals this season, keeping his team afloat even in challenging fixtures.
Shakhtar, meanwhile, are in outstanding form and brimming with momentum. In April, they've played five matches, winning three and drawing twice, including impressive European outings against AZ (3-0 and 2-2), which boosted their confidence and secured a spot in the Conference League semifinals.
Domestically, the Miners are also relentless: a 2-2 draw with LNZ and a 1-0 win over Polissya propelled them to the top of the table. Squad depth and minimal injury concerns give Arda Turan the flexibility to rotate and maintain a high standard even with a congested schedule.
Probable lineups
- Zorya: Turbaevskyi — Juninho, Eskinja, Jordan, Perduta — Popara, Kushnirenko — Slesar, Andzhushych, Horbach — Budkivskyi.
- Shakhtar: Riznyk — Konoplia, Bondar, Matvienko, Pedrinho — Nazarina, Santana — Pedrinho, Bondarenko, Eguinaldo — Traoré.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Shakhtar haven't lost to Zorya since October 2021: in nine meetings, they've won seven and drawn two.
- Zorya have scored in every match after the winter break, finding the net 13 times in seven games in 2026.
- In the last round, Zorya lost to Dynamo (1-3), while Shakhtar beat Polissya (1-0) to consolidate their position at the top.
Prediction
The gulf in class and current form between the teams is too significant to overlook. Zorya are capable of putting up a fight thanks to their character and attacking streak, but they've consistently struggled to match the league's elite over 90 minutes. Shakhtar look like a side that knows how to get results even without everything going their way. Given their form, squad depth, and confidence, a Shakhtar victory is the most logical outcome, though Zorya also have a good chance of finding the net.
