THE UPL 20/21 SEASON IS UPON US 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Top flight football RETURNS to Ukraine TODAY for its 30th edition just a month after 19/20 ended!
Following one of the strangest but most exiting seasons in recent memory 20/21 has A LOT to live up to!
ULTIMATE 20/21 UPL PREVIEW
20/21 LEAGUE FORMAT CHANGES:
UPL returns to 14 teams – 1st time since 16/17 season
Return to double round robin style tournament ONLY (each side plays each other home & away)
26 Matchdays – NO Championship/Relegation Group splits (too congested with 14 teams)
20/21 PLACES & PRIZES:
🥇 – 21/22 UCL GS
🥈- 21/22 UCL 3rd Q Round
🏆 – (Cup)21/22 UEL Play Off Round
🥉 – 21/22 UConfL* 3rd Q Round
4️⃣ – 21/22 UConfL* 2nd Q Round
* UEFA Conference League – New Third tier 🇪🇺 competition
If Cup Winner finishes 🥇or🥈then UEL place goes to 🥉
RELEGATION:
Very simple
1️⃣4️⃣ – Relegation to Persha Liha
Just ONE side goes down due to the 21/22 UPL expanding to 16 teams
ONE side ⬇️
THREE Persha Liha sides ⬆️
(Same as this year – just no Relegation group)
THE CLUBS
Shakhtar Donetsk
19/20: 🥇
🏡: NSK Olympiyskyi, Kyiv
Notable Transfers IN / OUT:
Wellington Nem – Released
Mykhaylo Mudryk – Desna (Loan)
Artem Bondarenko – Mariupol (Loan)
Oleh Kudryk – Mariupol (Loan)
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK:
📍Start season just FOUR days after ending 19/20 edition (losing 5-0 to Inter in UEL Semi)
📍Aging stars may suffer Burnout?
📍Little much has changed since last season as a result
📍No key losses thus far
📍Another title charge expected – a level above
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Marcos Antônio – CM
Already being dubbed ‘The New Fred’ – Energetic box to box mid- good range of passing – eye for goal inside & outside of box
Manor Solomon – RM
The Israel wide man is expected to feature more in 20/21 – fast & skilful dribbler + scores
DYNAMO KYIV
19/20:🥈
🏡: NSK Olympiyskyi, Kyiv
Notable Transfers IN / OUT:
Bohdan Lednev – Loan Return
Oleksandr Tymchyk – Loan Return
Vladyslav Supryaha – Loan Return
Serhiy Buletsa – Loan Return
Artem Kravets – Free Agent (IN)
Josip Pivaric – Released
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK:
📍Most anticipated season in years
📍Mircea Lucescu is DK manager
📍Ultra feud w ML & Club owners
📍Returning loanees expected to be given a chance: Lednev, Tymchyk & Supryaha
📍Supryaha to solve DK ST issue?
📍All friendlies BCD – no idea about ML tactics
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Vladyslav Supryaha – ST
15 UPL goals on loan at Dnipro-1 last term – so he looks to be ready to step into ST role @ DK – electric pace & good finisher
Bohdan Lednev – CAM
Playmaker impressed on loan @ Zorya in 19/20 – creative, set piece specialist – 🇺🇦 DB7
ZORYA LUHANSK
19/20: 🥉
🏡: Slavutych Arena, Zaporizhya
NOTABLE TRANSFERS IN / OUT:
Denys Favorov – Desna (IN)
Max Grechkin – Beitar J (IN)
Yehor Nazaryna – R Antwerp (IN)
B. Mykhaylychenko ⏩ Anderlecht
Y. Cheberko ⏩ LASK Linz
B. Lednev ⏩ DK
O. Tymchyk ⏩ DK
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK:
📍Viktor Skripnyk STAYS as manager for now (Was going to Dnipro-1 but deal fell flat)
📍Lost A LOT of key men in break – replacements brought in but not same quality as those who left
📍Squad looks light with lack of goals
📍Juggling UPL & UEL will be hard
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vlad Kocherhin (RM/ CAM)
Post lockdown he was the sides only real saving light – main creative source of attack – scores goals in a side where they come at a premium
Yehor Nazaryna (CM/CAM)
The Lednev replacement – impressed at Karpaty – Step up needed
DESNA CHERNIHIV
19/20: 4️⃣
🏡: Yuri Gagarin Stadium, Chernihiv
Notable Transfers IN/OUT:
Maksymov Dehtaryov – Olimpik (IN)
Mykhayla Mudryk – Shakhtar (IN)
Denys Favorov ⏩ Zorya Luhansk
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK:
📍UEL Q coming up – main priority in early season
📍Lost long serving captain – D Favorov who left in a contract dispute
📍Added impetus on juggling Europa & pushing for medals again
📍Strong squad – great at attacking
📍Filippov to push for that 🇺🇦 call up
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Mykhaylo Mudryk – LW
The Ukrainian Neymar has arrived in Chernihiv – the 433 star is hoping to develop more on the pitch than on IG – pacy, skilful dribbler – lots of flare
Oleksandr Filippov – ST
Finished 2nd in Golden boot race – Will be up for it again!
OLEKSANDRIYA
19/20: 5️⃣
🏡: NSK Nika, Oleksandriya
NOTABLE TRANSFERS:
Maksym Tretyakov – Dunajska Streda
(IN) Signs a permanent deal
K. Dubra – Released
A. Shendrik – Released
A. Zaporozhan – Released
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK:
📍Disappointing end to 19/20 for Sharan’s men – capitulated in Championship Group & lost UEL Play Off
📍No 🇪🇺 to worry about – just focus on the league & cup
📍No major losses – but goalscorers still lacking in the squad
📍Will be a hard def team to face
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Maksym Tretyakov – LW
Great signing to have Tretyakov permanently – contributed many a goal last season – tricky winger with finishing ability
Kyrylo Kovalets – CAM
Midfield Maestro – can pick a pass out from anywhere and also scores a few – in his prime atm
KOLOS KOVALIVKA
19/20: 6️⃣
🏡: Kolos Stadium, Kovalivka
NOTABLE TRANSFERS IN/OUT
A. Ngamba – UR La Louviere (IN)
Y. Novak – Vardar (IN)
O. Kozushko – Free Agent (IN)
M. Kravchenko – Dynamo (IN) LOAN
Y. Yefremov ⏩ FC Suduva
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍Representing Kovalivka (pop. 1,500) in Europe – early stages of season focus on Q rounds
📍New stadium to open in Kovalivka – so expectation to show fans performances
📍Might be difficult to replicate 6th place finish – but will give bigger sides a good go
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Yevhen Morozko – LM
Popping up with key performances last season – his deliveries will be important to feed in Lysenko & Bondarenko
Denys Kostyshyn – CAM
Missed most of last season due to injury – but he’s back to full fitness
Fine dribbler & game changer
DNIPRO-1
19/20: 7️⃣
🏡: Dnipro Arena, Dnipro
Notable Transfers IN/OUT
Artem Dovbyk – FC Midtjylland (IN)
Bohdan Sarnavskyi – FC Lviv (IN)
Vladyslav Dubinchak – DK (IN)
Vladyslav Supryaha ⏩ DK
Serhiy Buletsa ⏩ DK
Dmytro Korkishko – Released
Vladyslav Shapoval – Released
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍Potentially big season ahead
📍Mykhaylenko has a point to prove after he somehow stays in job following Skripnyk debacle
📍Lost key goals & creators – Supryaha & Buletsa
📍Dovbyk return huge positive
📍Should go & challenge for Europe places this season
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bohdan Sarnavskyi – GK
Great goalkeeper signing who was standout player for lowly FC Lviv in 19/20 – great shot & penalty stopper
Much needed problem area addressed
Oleksiy Khoblenko – ST
No Supryaha means more game time for this man – natural goalscorer
MARIUPOL
19/20: 8️⃣
🏡: V. Boyko Stadium, Mariupol
NOTABLE TRANSFERS IN/OUT
Petro Stasyuk – Free agent (IN)
Artem Bondarenko – SD (IN)
Oleh Kudryk – SD (IN)
Ruslan Fomin ⏩ FC Metal
Serhiy Yavorskyi ⏩ Vorskla
Valery Fedorchuk ⏩ Released
Viktor Kornienko ⏩ Shakhtar
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍Oleksandr Babych left after 19/20 close – Ostap Markevych IN
📍Ostap, son of Myron – worked at Villarreal for 4 years
📍Got rid of some of the side’s veterans such as Fomin & club captain Yavorskyi (big loss in def)
📍Shakhtar loanees from 19/20 stay on
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Oleksiy Kashchuk – RW
Main man post lockdown scoring a number of key goals – lots of energy down the right – scores goals in a team that lacks them
Artem Bondarenko – CAM
New Shakhtar loanee has been spoken of highly – exciting technical player – big season
OLIMPIK DONETSK
19/20: 9️⃣
🏡: Lobanovksyi Stadium, Kyiv
Notable Transfers IN / OUT
Kirkuk Kirilenko – Karpaty (IN)
Yevhen Neplyakh – Free agent (IN)
Vitaliy Balashov ⏩ Released
Maksym Dehtaryov ⏩ Released
Matar Dieye ⏩ Released
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍Everyone’s tip for relegation last season stayed up once again thanks to magic caretaker manager – Ihor Kymovskyi
📍He’s finally been given the role FT and is close to finishing his badges
📍Another season of relegation flirting expected
📍Very much 🤷♂️
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Shahab Zahedi – ST
Olimpik’s best player last season – most consistent top performer and had a good stint of goalscoring form at end of season
Maxime Texeira – LW
The side’s main chance creator – gets the odd goal – but he will be carving out opps for Zahedi
VORSKLA POLTAVA
19/20: 🔟
🏡: O. Butovsky Stadium, Poltava
Notable Transfers IN/OUT
Serhiy Yavorskyi – Free agent (IN)
Ivan Pesic – Free agent (IN)
Mykyta Tatarkov – Free agent (IN)
Luizao ⏩ Porto (End of Loan)
Yevhen Martynenko ⏩ Released
Artur ⏩ Keshla
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍First FULL season in charge for Yuri Maksymov – build on last successes
📍Following cup final performance many expect a top half finish from Vorskla this time
📍Good mix of youth & experience – clearing out dead wood over past 2 windows
📍Exciting times
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pape Alioune – CB
6’8 young centre back had his breakthrough season last year – pacey, composed tackler & confident passer
Ibrahim Kane – LM
Playing at full back or LW – Kane will always be flying down the left flank – added goals to his game & now a key man
FC LVIV
19/20: 1️⃣1️⃣
🏡: Stadion Ukraina, Lviv
Notable Transfers IN/OUT
Mikhel Ainsalu – FC Flora (IN)
Bohdan Sarnavskyi ⏩ Dnipro-1
Jonatan Lima ⏩ Released
Anton Bratkov ⏩ Released
Ihor Honchar ⏩ Released
Vladyslav Priymak ⏩ Released
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍It was a long hard season for Lviv but they stayed up thanks to their city rivals Karpaty’s financial issues
📍Certain relegation battle expected
📍Plenty of Brazilians still remain
📍No strengthening after loss of KEY men – Sarnavskyi, Honchar,Tatarkov
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Herman Penkov – GK
The man tasked with replacing Sarnavskyi – will be primary problem area as defensive is so error prone
Renann – ST
Lviv’s saving grace? Renann found some goalscoring form post Covid that Lviv will want to see replicated in 20/21
FC MINAJ
19/20: 🥇(Persha Liha)
🏡: Avanhard Stadium, Uzhorod
Notable Transfers IN/OUT
Denys Kozhanov – Free agent (IN)
Kyrylo Melichenko – SD (IN)
Dmytro Pavlish – SD (IN)
Petro Stasyuk ⏩ Mariupol
Mykhaylo Kopolovets ⏩ Retired
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍The second smallest village team in the UPL (pop. 3,088)
📍Minaj debut in the UPL as Persha Liha champs
📍Should fare well after recent good performances in the cup v UPL sides
📍More signings pending – a Kolos fairytale unlikely – but top half finish is
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Denys Kozhanov – ST
Veteran forward & last season’s Persha Liha top scorer enters the UPL for his swan song years – goals expected
Anatoliy Nuriev – ST
Last season’s club top scorer should take to the UPL with ease – almost ever present – he’ll also get goals
RUKH LVIV
19/20: 🥈
🏡: Arena Lviv, Lviv
Notable Transfers IN/OUT
Valery Fedorchuk – Free agent (IN)
Ilya Ponomarov – Free agent (IN)
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍Owner Hyhoriy Kozlovksyi is currently building a state of the art academy
📍Now Rukh are in the UPL – he wants it to stay that way
📍Eclectic squad mix of old & young players – many with UPL experience
📍New-ish Manager Ivan Fedyk just 33 – 🇺🇦 Nagelsmann?
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Yuriy Klymchuk – LW
Quick, jinky winger who impressed in Persha Liha – will be interesting to see if he can step up
Danylo Kondrakov – ST
Alongside Klymchuk coming in from LW, this guy will be the main goalscoring forward – assisted by ST partner Ernest
INHULETS PETROVE
19/20: 🥉 (Persha Liha)
🏡: Zirka Stadium, Kropivnitksyi
Notable Transfers IN / OUT
Mykhaylo Plokhotnyuk – C Odesa 2
Mykyta Zelenskyi – Balkany Zorya
20/21 SEASON OUTLOOK
📍Third smallest club in UPL – town population circa 7,000
📍Eccentric owner
📍Need to stay up so they can debut in new stadium – ETA: April 21
📍18/19 Cup finalists – only ever non UPL side to make it
📍Experienced squad – Shust & Bartulovic return to UPL
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nika Sichinava – ST
Inhulets’ Georgian CF was voted Persha Liha POTS after an unforgettable campaign – 19/20 club top scorer – contributed to 40% of all goals
Maksym Kovalyov – CB
Veteran defender knocking around – main thing to note – Craziest hair in UPL
ZORYA LONDONSK 