On February 24, 2024, Shakhtar Donetsk will host Lviv Bereg at Arena Lviv for the 18th round of the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL). The match is set to kick off at 18:00 Kyiv time. Both teams have much at stake, with Shakhtar aiming to keep its championship aspirations alive, trailing second-placed Oleksandriya by eight points and leaders Dynamo by 13.
Shakhtar's head coach, Marino Puzhych, has assembled his squad with significant talent as they continue their pursuit of the title. Their current standing shows 33 points from 16 games, and they still have at least one match left to play, against Kryvbas, which could bring even more excitement as they approach the finish of the season.
The starting lineup for Shakhtar includes goalkeeper Riznyk, defenders Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, Azarov, and midfielder Kryskiv, with forwards Pedrinyu, Shved, Traore, and Kevin leading the attack. Bench players comprise Fesyun, Arroyo, Ehinald, Enrique, Gram, Elias, Glushenko, Tsukanov, Konoplja, Nazaryna, Nevertov, and Farina.
On the opposite side, Lviv Bereg enters the match with their own challenges to overcome. Currently sitting 13th with only 16 points, the newly-promoted team is fighting for survival. Their starting players include Mekhaniv, Astakhov, Semenov, Shapoval, Sidney, Kogut I., Dedukh, Synytsia, Kogut Mii, Shastal, and Sukhoruchko, with substitutes including Stashkiv, Karavashchenko, Sokolov, Banada, Kosovskyi, Prikhodko, Diego, Voitsekhovskyi, Halas, Riznyk, and Kobzar.
One notable statistic impacting Lviv Bereg's performance is their struggle to find the net, having scored fewer than ten goals this season – the least of any team in the league. Coach Oleksandr Pervak is hopeful the winter break can help improve his players' form, as they aim to stave off relegation concerns.
Fans of both clubs will be able to catch the game via various broadcasting channels. The match can be viewed live on UPL TV across multiple OTT platforms, including Kyivstar TV, Vodafone TV, Setanta Sports, YouTV, VOLIA, Sweet.tv, and the recently added MEGOGO. The game will also be available for free for registered users on the Vbet betting platform, making it accessible to even more fans. Viewers can follow along for updates and highlights through live commentary on Sport.ua's Telegram channel.
Notably, Alexsandr Afanasyev from Kharkiv province will officiate the match, ensuring fairness on the field. With the stakes high and both teams desperate for points, fans are eagerly anticipating every thrilling second of what promises to be an intense encounter.
Overall, the clash between Shakhtar Donetsk and Lviv Bereg carries far-reaching consequences, with Shakhtar fighting to remain competitive for the championship and Lviv Bereg battling to secure their place in the top league, avoiding relegation.