Matchday. "Metalist 1925" - "Obolon"

August 24, 2025. Zhytomyr, "Central City Stadium". 1/32 finals of the Vbet Ukrainian Cup. The match starts at 18:00

Referee - Mykhailo Raida (Irshava, Zakarpattia region)

Assistant referees - Dmytro Podvalnyi (Kyiv region) and Andrii Likarenko (Chernihiv)

Fourth official - Vladyslav Hrytsai (Kyiv region)

UAF arbitration observer - Oleh Zubarev (Slovyansk)

Live broadcast of the match on TV channel and YouTube channel UPL.TV

PRIOR TO THE MATCH:

Just 20 days ago, "Metalist 1925" and "Obolon" already met in Zhytomyr, starting the season with a match against each other. In that game, no one managed to score, and it ended in a goalless draw 0:0. Some considered this result a failure for "Metalist 1925", but the further development of the season showed that "Obolon" is indeed a tough opponent, and the Kharkiv team is the only one that did not lose to the "brewers" at the start of the championship. In the following rounds, Kyivans won two games and currently share 2-5 places in the Ukrainian championship. Therefore, as head coach Mladen Bartulovich of "Metalist 1925" noted, another match against the same opponent will be a good opportunity to demonstrate the conclusions the teams have drawn.

Last week, "Metalist 1925" finally secured their first victory of the season by defeating "Oleksandriya" 4:1 away. A few days ago, the team visited their hometown of Kharkiv, which celebrated its birthday yesterday. This should also inspire the Kharkiv team.

It can be said that the cup draw was not too favorable for both teams. After all, the pair "Metalist 1925" - "Obolon" is the only one at this stage where representatives of the UPL meet. The draw was blind, so today's opponents could have even faced amateurs. On the other hand, this is the Ukrainian Cup - the trophy will go to the team that does not lose a single match in the tournament. Therefore, they must win all.

How "Metalist 1925" and "Obolon" will perform with this lineup is a question that will only be answered after the starting lineups are announced. Mladen Bartulovich's choice is pleasantly difficult. The winning lineup from the match against "Oleksandriya" is available. Panchenko and Hadzhiev showed themselves brightly coming off the bench. There are talented players who received little game time at the start of the season. Also, this week "Metalist 1925" announced the signing of a contract with Kosovo national team player Batono Zabergdzhie, so perhaps fans will be able to see him in action today.

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Photos from the team's trip to Kharkiv - on our Instagram page.

Video from "Metalist 1925" training sessions - watch on TikTok.

See photos from the "United by the Game" show match held by "Metalist 1925" and "Khartiya" - on Facebook.

"Obolon" (Kyiv). Profile

Year of establishment - 2013

Club colors - white and green

Home stadium - "Obolon Arena" (Kyiv, 26 Pivnichna St.)

President - Oleksandr Slobodian

Head coach - Oleksandr Antonenko

Official website - fc.obolon.ua

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History: The football club known as "Obolon" has been familiar to Ukrainian fans for over 30 years, but this particular "Obolon" was founded in 2013, initially under the name "Obolon-Brovar". On the second attempt, the team managed to overcome the Second League, but had to stay in the First League longer, only debuting in the UPL in the 2023/2024 season. Since then, it is starting its third consecutive season in the elite of Ukrainian football, finishing 14th and 11th in the previous two.

Achievements: Founded in 2013, the club won awards in two divisions of Ukrainian football. In 2015, the brewers became silver medalists in the Second League. Moving up a class, they immediately achieved success in the First League, with "Obolon" securing bronze. The white-green team achieved even greater success in the First League when they entered the UPL, winning silver in 2023.

Geography: "Obolon" is a capital club representing the district of the same name in the northern part of the city, on the right bank of the Dnipro River. The club has gained popularity not only in its territory but throughout Ukraine due to its unique atmosphere.

Head Coach: "Obolon" is led by 46-year-old specialist, Oleksandr Antonenko. A native of Zhytomyr region, he spent most of his player career in the capital region, playing for "Obolon", "Systema-Boreks", and "Arsenal" from Bila Tserkva. He also played for "Illichivets". He started his coaching career 11 years ago in the current club's system, which he now leads.

Transfermarkt: According to the estimates of a well-known portal, the current squad of "Obolon" is valued at 6.6 million euros, which is over 9 million euros less than the squad of "Metalist 1925". Currently, there are no foreign players in the capital team. None of the team's players are called up to the Ukrainian national team. The most expensive "assets" are the two central defenders of the team: Valeriy Dubko and Vladyslav Priymak. Both are valued at 500 thousand euros.