Artem Chobanian


What: Ukrainian Premier League
Who: Shakhtar Donetsk (1st; 71 points) vs Dynamo Kyiv (2nd; 68 points)
When: Wednesday 5th May, 2010 at 17:00 UK Time
Where: Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine



There’s more to a result than the game

For Dynamo Kyiv, who are three points behind their bitter rivals, but one goal ahead in goal difference, the result is much more important than the game. When the two meet the contest is like a final, with battles all over the pitch. Dynamo treated these occasions as a chance to show they were still a stronger and greater club than the upstarts from Donetsk. This time it's different though. Coach Valery Gazzaev began the season well, surging to the top of the table and leaving all rivals far behind the Kyiv giants. Especially important was the arrival of Andrei Shevchenko who has emerged as a true leader of the team.

Now though, lead gone, Dynamo have to win, no matter how. Gazzaev and the team appreciate there are just two games left and club owner Ihor Surkis has stated the team will show first class football and triumph in the home championship. The stakes couldn't be higher. The Kyiv side will no doubt be buoyed by the memory of the earlier meeting between the two in the league, where they smashed Shakhtar, scoring three times within 15 minutes.

Europe in mind

Shakhtar Donetsk come into this game having not lost a single match in their brand sparkly new Donbass Arena. Mircea Lucescu's men are keen to keep this record up in their UEFA Elite Stadium as long as possible, but the Romanian knows Dynamo are capable of shattering their dreams. One important plus for Shakhtar though is that Dynamo's poor league period, which allowed them to overhaul the capital city side, means it is the hosts who come into this match in the position of Premier League leaders and three points clear.

Many local pundits believe Shakhtar will find themselves in a complicated position when the two meet. The Donetsk club have been more successful in Europe than Dynamo in recent years and gained a great victory by winning the UEFA Cup. This had led many to comment that for many players home league matches, even against Dynamo, have become a routine, a chore to be dispensed with, and that there is nothing more to prove.

A key target for Shakhtar and their billionaire owner is to reach at least the quarter-finals of the Champions League next season – an ambitious step after winning the UEFA Cup. To secure their appearance in Europe's showpiece competition however – the group stage at least – they simply have to win the Premier League. A draw here too, would be considered good enough.

Recent form

Shakhtar Donestk:
Shakhtar 1-0 Zakarpattya (18/04; Premier League)
Shakhtar 3-0 Chernomorets (25/04; Premier League)
Metalurg Z 0-2 Shakhtar (01/05; Premier League)

Dynamo Kyiv:
Dynamo 2-1 Dnipro (18/04; Premier League)
Karpaty Lviv 1-0 Dynamo (24/04; Premier League)
Dynamo 2-0 Zakarpattya (01/05; Premier League)

Key absences

Shakhtar Donetsk: None

Dynamo Kyiv: Roman Eremenko; Leandro Almeida

Players to watch

Shakhtar Donetsk – Dario Srna: In all the club's meetings with Dynamo, experienced captain Srna was targeted by the opposition and pressured to stop him playing his game. And when Srna is out of the game Shakhtar lack much of a driving force. Should this happen Shakhtar would be forced to remake their strategy around the club's Brazilians and especially newcomer Douglas Costa – all the more reason to hope Srna is on form.

Dynamo Kyiv – Artem Milevsky and Andrei Shevchenko: This duo are a real handful for any team, but captain Shevchenko especially will hope to continue his excellent record against Shakhtar – the former AC Milan man scores more often than not. The Ukraine star has nothing to prove to Shakhtar, but now is the moment when Shevchenko's experience and skill will play a major role for Dynamo. Both strikers will need to be sharp and on form to secure the win.

Match Prediction

This will be a hard match for both teams, with perhaps Shakhtar slightly the more nervous of the two, simply because a draw will do, so failing to win or draw would be a catastrophe. Dynamo will try to push Shakhtar, especially in their Brazilian centre, and take control of the game. Their young wingers will have to fight against Shakhtar's experienced flanks and Gazzaev has already had to change his tactical setup due to losing Eremenko and Almeida. Thus Aylia Yussuf, Ognjen Vukojevic and even Taras Mihalyk will be forced into more attacking roles to help the forwards.

Even with relatively poor form lately, Dynamo will be a hard nut to crack for Shakhtar, but certainly the home team should record a tight victory at the Donbass Arena.

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