Former Shakhtar Donetsk player Oleksandr Sopko told what he expects from his former team's match against Dynamo Kyiv in the 28th round of the Ukrainian Championship, which will be held today in Lviv.
Alexander Sopko. Photo — V. Peregnyak- Any meeting between Shakhtar and Dynamo, even if it does not decide anything from the tournament point of view and does not carry any intrigue - it is always a game for prestige, for reputation, for the club's emblem. It is a confrontation of coaching tactics and the struggle of individual players. Well, the upcoming game will be by no means ordinary, because there is too much at stake in it. Especially on the part of Dynamo. This match for them will be from the category of "Either do or die". Therefore, at least Kyiv will not dry this game, but will play for the result. And they may, as a result, both achieve what they want and pay for it.
As the recent matches between Shakhtar and Dynamo have shown, both teams approach the face-off in optimal readiness. Let's not forget about the approaching Euros: both clubs have many candidates for the Ukraine national team, and this match is a great opportunity for them to prove their right to a place in the national team.
And, of course, it will be a landmark match for both coaches. Oleksandr Shovkovskiy in this game can finally prove that he is the coach of Dynamo without any conventions and corresponds to the level and ambitions of the club. And for Marino Pusic the situation is such that in just 4 days he can solve all the tasks for the season: to become the champion ahead of schedule and win the Cup of the country. But provided he can withstand the pressure and set the team up correctly for two consecutive crucial matches - the decisive game of the championship and the Cup final. And if Pušić solves the task, it will become a kind of Rubicon in his coaching career.
I think that Shakhtar are not in the mood to postpone everything until the last minute. Moreover, in the final two games of the championship the opponents will also be quite difficult. Therefore, I do not agree with those who say that the Pitmen, having a 4-point advantage, won't make a big deal of it, as a draw will suit them just fine. When you play for a draw, you can always lose. And a defeat to Dynamo will lead to nervousness - there will be no right to make a mistake. So, if the Pitmen go into the game relying on their head start, it can play a cruel joke on them. In the end, a head start can turn out to be a kind of "anchor". That's why Pušić will instruct his charges to solve everything in this game. And, I think, the Pitmen will take everything to the highest level: emotions, motivation and physical readiness.
What tactics will the opponents choose for this match? It is a very interesting question. I think it may even happen that Shakhtar's usual tactics - playing first, from a position of strength - may to some extent help Dynamo to realise their game plan. After all, Shakhtar are used to dominate the pitch through ball control, high pressing, are used to possessing the initiative and long draws to undermine the opponent's defence.
Plus, the players who make the weather in the Pitmen's attack - Sikan, Sudakov, the Brazilian - are now in excellent condition. Therefore, the Pitmen are trying to play first-choice against any opponent: immediately transfer the game to the other half and try to control the ball there. And the first thing that comes to mind: with Dynamo they will not give up their tactics. Simply because they don't like and don't know how to play differently - vertically, with a small number of passes.
As for Shovkovskiy's charges, they play a little differently. You must have noticed that in recent matches they have been successful not through positional plays with long ball control, but through quick attacks and counterattacks. They run forward with a large number of players, at speed, synchronously, they do not hold the ball for long. And such Dynamo attacks are very dangerous and effective.
And this is the chance for Kyiv in the upcoming game. I think they will deliberately lure Shakhtar to their half of the pitch, build a strong defence and wait for a cutback or a mistake by the Pitmen, or simply take the ball away in a fight. And immediately, using the zones, run forward at speed, showing their strong qualities, which I have already mentioned. Especially since Shakhtar's defenders are not very fast, and often lose the fight - simply because they can't keep up with the opponent.
The same applies to the position of the supporting midfielder. Stepanenko, if he plays, is good for everything - he is an experienced, tenacious, selfless and patient player. But his main disadvantage - lack of speed - may prove decisive in this game. If Dynamo have opportunities for quick counterattacks, Taras will not always and everywhere have time. In recent games, however, a more mobile Krys'kiv seemed to be playing for this position, but in terms of commitment and reading the game, he is certainly inferior to Stepanenko so far. As for Bondarenko, he does not know how to play in the selection, and he is good only when the team plays first.
This is my opinion. But the coaches of both teams probably think the same way. And they understand perfectly well that all the things I said - it's all on the surface, everything is easy to read. And in the upcoming game we will have to surprise the opponent with something. Therefore, I do not rule out, moreover - I have a feeling that Shakhtar's coaching staff may abandon their usual tactics in this game and build the game in a completely different way. They will give away the initiative and play compactly at the back, waiting for the opponent's mistakes. "Try, attack, you need the victory more!".
This option is quite possible as a way to surprise the opponent. But such a game relies on a well-oiled defence. And Shakhtar are by no means blameless in their own penalty area. Including in the case of standards, which Dynamo have well organised. To sit too deep to their own goal is also a risk. That is why I am very interested in how both teams will build their game in the end.
I have no doubt about one thing - there will be a lot of fighting all over the pitch, a lot of fouls, a lot of cards. Moreover, the fight will be imposed first of all by Dynamo - they have an advantage in this component. And they will try to put psychological pressure on Shakhtar, make them nervous and make mistakes. Because, in a nervous and emotional game, the Kyivians, in my opinion, feel more comfortable. "Shakhtar are more comfortable with calm, academic football, which shows their advantage in individual skills.
What is my prediction for the outcome of the match? I somehow think that the game will not end in a draw, there will definitely be a winner. If there will be no goals before the break, then in the end everything can be decided by one goal. But if they start scoring even in the first half, the final score could be big: the losing team will start to open up, and as a result they could run into more trouble.
Eduard Kinzerski
