Shakhtar Donetsk vs Livyi Bereh Predictions

Shakhtar Donetsk will host Livyi Bereh at Arena Lviv on February 24, 2025, in a significant Premier League matchup as Round 18 brings together two teams with vastly different trajectories. Shakhtar Donetsk, under Valeriy Yaremchenko, are projected to sit 3rd with around 35 points from 17 matches as of February 23, 2025, following a 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League (Feb 18, 2025), aiming to leverage their home dominance to maintain their title chase. Livyi Bereh, managed by Vitaliy Pervak, are expected to be 13th with approximately 17 points, buoyed by a 1-0 win over Veres Rivne (Feb 15, 2025), but facing a daunting task against a superior Shakhtar side. Our expert prediction explores team form, key players, head-to-head stats, and betting tips to answer: Who will win Shakhtar Donetsk vs Livyi Bereh in this Premier League clash?

Team Form & Recent Performances

Shakhtar Donetsk

• 2024/25 Record (Projected as of Feb 23): 11W, 2D, 4L (35 points, 3rd in Premier League)

• Latest Result: 2-0 loss vs. Bayern Munich (Champions League, Feb 18, 2025)

• Home Form: 7W, 1D, 2L (22 goals scored, 9 conceded)
  Shakhtar Donetsk have been a formidable force in the 2024/25 Premier League season, projected at 35 points from 17 matches as of February 23, 2025. Their recent 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich ended a five-game unbeaten run in the league (4W, 1D), with a 3-1 win over Rukh Lviv (Feb 15, 2025) showcasing their attacking prowess. At home, they’ve averaged 2.20 goals per game and conceded 0.90, reflecting their dominance at Arena Lviv despite European distractions, bolstered by Heorhii Sudakov’s breakout season.

Livyi Bereh

• 2024/25 Record (Projected as of Feb 23): 4W, 5D, 8L (17 points, 13th in Premier League)

• Latest Result: 1-0 win vs. Veres Rivne (Feb 15, 2025)

• Away Form: 2W, 2D, 5L (10 goals scored, 15 conceded)
  Livyi Bereh, in their debut Premier League season after promotion, have struggled to adapt, projected at 17 points from 17 matches as of February 23, 2025. Their recent 1-0 victory over Veres Rivne snapped a three-game winless streak (0W, 1D, 2L), with Oleh Synytsia’s goal offering hope after a 2-0 loss to Dynamo Kyiv (Feb 8, 2025). On the road, they’ve averaged 1.11 goals per game and conceded 1.67, showing resilience but a lack of consistency against stronger opposition.

Head-to-Head Stats & Historical Context

• Overall Record: Shakhtar Donetsk 1W, Livyi Bereh 0W, 0D (1 meeting since 2024)

• Recent Meetings:

  • Aug 17, 2024: Livyi Bereh 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (Premier League)

• Key Trend: Shakhtar won their only previous meeting 1-0; limited H2H data reflects low-scoring trend.
  Shakhtar Donetsk and Livyi Bereh have met just once, with Shakhtar securing a 1-0 victory in August 2024 at Dnipro Arena, courtesy of a goal from Oleksandr Zubkov. As a newly promoted side, Livyi Bereh have yet to trouble Shakhtar, who dominated possession (68%) and shots (17 vs. 5) in that encounter. With only one match to analyze, the trend points to a low-scoring affair, though Shakhtar’s historical dominance over mid-to-lower-table teams adds context.

Key Players to Watch

Shakhtar Donetsk

• Heorhii Sudakov (MID): 9 goals, 6 assists in 2024/25; Shakhtar’s top scorer and creative hub.

• Oleksandr Zubkov (FWD): 6 goals, 4 assists; key finisher in attack.

• Dmytro Riznyk (GK): 8 clean sheets; anchors a stout defense.

Livyi Bereh

• Oleh Synytsia (MID): 4 goals in 2024/25; Livyi Bereh’s leading scorer and spark.

• Andriy Spasyuk (FWD): 3 goals, 2 assists; emerging talent in attack.

• Maksym Mekhaniv (GK): 5 clean sheets; vital despite away struggles.

Tactical Insights & Match Dynamics

Shakhtar Donetsk’s possession-based 4-1-4-1 (1.94 goals per game) will test Livyi Bereh’s compact 4-4-2 (0.94 goals per game). Sudakov’s playmaking and Zubkov’s finishing could exploit Livyi Bereh’s shaky away defense (1.67 goals conceded per game), which has faltered against top sides. Livyi Bereh’s counterattacking approach relies on Synytsia’s creativity and Spasyuk’s pace, challenging Shakhtar’s backline (0.88 goals conceded per game), though their defensive resilience will be key. Shakhtar’s Marlon (doubtful, ankle) and Livyi Bereh’s Ruslan Dedukh (out, suspension) may affect lineups, with Shakhtar’s 25,000-strong Arena Lviv crowd amplifying their edge.

Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk vs Livyi Bereh

Our Prediction: Correct Score - Shakhtar Donetsk to Win 3-0

TIP 2: Total Goal - Over 2.5