Polissya Zhytomyr
- Polissya Zhytomyr are in 4th place on 15 points, just two points below leaders Shakhtar, and are enjoying a great run of form in the league. As one of our main Polissya Zhytomyr vs Shakhtar Donetsk betting tips, this solid performance should not be underestimated.
- Polissya, by contrast, have a simple and direct approach to the game, which is to play it on the front foot, press the opposition and get numbers forward.
- Ruslan Rotan has instilled in his players a belief that they can press opponents into submission, particularly in transition, and with a small squad, they have made their set-pieces very efficient too.
- Bogdan Mykhailichenko and Oleksii Hutsulyak are experienced wide players who can get the better of most defenders one-on-one and link defence with attack, while the energetic Mykola Gayduchyk is a real fox-in-the-box type to lead the line.
- Polissya have won 4 of their last 5 league matches and have scored 11 goals in their last five UPL games, trouncing SC Poltava 4-0 at home.
Shakhtar Donetsk
- Shakhtar Donetsk are 1st in the UPL on 17 points after eight rounds, but suffered a 1-4 defeat to struggling LNZ Cherkasy last weekend.
- Polissya Zhytomyr’s fearless, high-energy pressing football should make for an interesting contrast to Shakhtar Donetsk’s more calculated possession-based approach when the hosts take on the current leaders in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash in the Premier League, making this Polissya Zhytomyr vs Shakhtar Donetsk prediction worth following for fans and punters alike.
- Arda Turan has brought a new style to Shakhtar, which is based on patient build-up and a structured pressing game that can lock opponents in their half for long periods of time.
- There is a lot of rotation in the side and the pace of the game is dictated by the tempo set by the ball players, who are also responsible for getting into the right positions to make the numbers up when their side is under pressure - an important factor for our Polissya Zhytomyr vs Shakhtar Donetsk betting tips.
Head-to-Head
Polissya Zhytomyr hold the advantage in recent head-to-heads in the Ukrainian Premier League, winning three , drawing one and losing only one of the last five meetings between the sides.
Key Players
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Bogdan Mykhailichenko and Oleksii Hutsulyak are experienced wide players who can get the better of most defenders one-on-one and link defence with attack, while the energetic Mykola Gayduchyk is a real fox-in-the-box type to lead the line.
- Bogdan Mykhailichenko
- Oleksii Hutsulyak
- Mykola Gayduchyk
- Pedro Henrique was the hero when Shakhtar won 3-2 at Aberdeen in the Conference League last time out and his aerial prowess represents a huge threat from set-piece play.
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Pedrinho remains Shakhtar’s beating heart in the attacking third, scoring goals and making assists aplomb in all competitions, while Lucas Ferreira and Yehor Nazaryna have also chipped in with vital goals recently to show the rotation and depth of Turan’s squad.
- Pedro Henrique
- Pedrinho
- Lucas Ferreira
- Yehor Nazaryna
Betting Insights
- Shakhtar are the slight favourites at 1.8 with Polissya 4.49 and the draw 3.68 - and the price on the home side seems a bit rich, which makes the Polissya Zhytomyr vs Shakhtar Donetsk betting tips particularly intriguing to analyze.
- Both teams to score, which is set at 1.95 for Saturday’s game, is slightly higher than it should be for a match-up of two clubs that should both want to be positive and score goals.
Prediction
Shakhtar, with their depth and attacking quality, should have enough to eke out a win, but Polissya’s form at home and in the head-to-head suggests they can take all three points in this one.
