Commentator and Sport RBC.UA expert Kirill Krutorogov shared his expectations for the new season of the Ukrainian Premier League. In his column, the specialist analyzed the prospects of the main favorites, paying attention to how participation in European cups could affect the fight for gold.
Dynamo Kyiv: Ambitions vs. Reality
For Kyiv's Dynamo, last season was difficult. Fourth place in the championship is, in the expert's opinion, a blatant failure. The only consolation was winning the Ukrainian Cup, which brought the team a trophy and a ticket to the Europa League.
On paper, the "white and blues'" squad looks strong enough to fight for second place, and theoretically — for gold. However, the quality of the Kyiv players' game raises questions. Even in the qualifying rounds of European cups, where upsets often occur, Dynamo looks uncompetitive.
Krutorogov notes a paradoxical situation: the Conference League could even hinder the team in the championship. If Dynamo cannot get past "Karabakh," it could be a plus, freeing up time for domestic tasks. Nevertheless, the expert believes that the tournament maximum for the Kyiv players this season will be third place, which hardly can be called progress.
Shakhtar: The Champions League as a Risk Factor
Donetsk's Shakhtar confidently won the gold last season, despite the fact that the game was not always spectacular. The team faced serious fatigue due to a long campaign in the Conference League and difficult logistics.
In the new season, the "miners" will play in the tournament of their dreams — the Champions League. A direct ticket is already forcing the team to mentally be on the European arena. Foreign players will strive to show themselves to improve their positions on the transfer market.
Opponents in the CL will be of a high class, and this will inevitably affect the results in the championship. In addition, logistical difficulties will remain. It is these factors, according to Krutorogov, that could prevent Shakhtar from defending their title.
Polissya and LNZ: Who Will Challenge the Leaders?
Zhytomyr's Polissya under the leadership of Ruslan Rotan is showing progress. In the summer, the club stabilized the squad, getting rid of unsuitable players and strengthening it selectively. On paper, the "wolves" are capable of winning points against any opponent.
The absence in the main round of the Conference League, against the backdrop of Shakhtar's participation in the CL, could be an advantage for the Zhytomyr team. The expert believes that Polissya will try to challenge Shakhtar in the fight for the championship, and reaching the second step of the podium will be evidence of their growth.
Cherkasy LNZ surprised everyone last season by taking second place. The team showed stability over a long distance. In the off-season, the club did not get weaker, and matches against "Gent" in the Conference League earned compliments, despite losing in a penalty shootout.
LNZ is capable of showing better football than last season, which will make the fight for silver and bronze extremely intriguing.
Kharkiv and Karpaty: New Players in the Race
"Metalist 1925", which changed its name to "Kharkiv", shows excellent work in terms of recruitment and marketing. In terms of squad and conditions, the club has everything to fight for bronze. However, last season the game was too pragmatic, which did not always convert into points.
"Karpaty" with new coach Fran Fernandez first stalled, and then began to pick up speed. In the off-season, graduates of the academies of "Real", "Atletico", "Real Sociedad" and "Barcelona" joined the team. This reinforcement could become a key factor for improving the results of the Lviv players.
