The stakes couldn't be clearer in Ternopil as Epitsentr Dunayivtsi faces off against Obolon'-Brovar on November 7. This match features two teams that are desperate to haul themselves out of the Premier League's relegation zone, with only four points separating them in the standings. Epitsentr sits in 13th place with a meager nine points, while Obolon' clings to 12th place with thirteen points-each team's future may very well depend on the outcome of this clash.
Predicted Lineups
Expect an engaging tactical battle as both teams take the field. For Epitsentr, look for GK: Oleg Bilyk, DEF: Oleksandr Klymets, Nil Coch, Vladyslav Moroz, and Volodymyr Tanchyk, MF: Jon Cebeiro, Yevhen Zaporozhets, Mykola Myronyuk; up front will be F: Joaquinete and Vladyslav Supryaga. Meanwhile, Obolon' is likely to line up with GK: Nazariy Fedorivskyi, DEF: Valeriy Dubko, Andrii Lomnytskyi, Dmytro Semenov; a midfield trio of MF: Maksym Chekh and Oleh Illin alongside Vasyl Kurko; and F: Denys Ustymenko and Serhiy Sukhanov spearheading their attack.
Examining recent form reveals a rollercoaster ride for both clubs. Epitsentr has oscillated between triumphs and heartbreaks over their last five matches: they've claimed victories against Oleksandria and Karpaty but lost their last encounter 3-2 against Veres Rivne after a heroic performance from Joaquinete-who scored twice late but still couldn't clinch a point. His efforts give hope to a squad that is finding its groove but remains prone to defensive lapses.
Conversely, Obolon' is mired in a different dilemma. Their last five fixtures have featured not one win; rather three losses coupled with two draws-last week's gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat at Kudrivka epitomized their struggles. They've failed to score in four of those five games, signaling potential issues that could make them sitting ducks in this upcoming matchup.
Let's dive into the numbers. In their respective last five matches:
- Ball Possession: Epitsentr has displayed greater control on the ball (averaging about 58% possession), which will likely serve them well against Obolon', who typically sit deeper defensively (45% possession). If Epitsentr can maintain this edge in possession, they'll be able to dictate the game's tempo.
- Shots on Goal: Here lies another critical indicator. Epitsentr averaged 4 shots on target per game compared to Obolon's troubling stat of just over 2. More shots lead to more chances-which often correlates directly with goals scored. This fact alone gives Epitsentr a tactical upper hand going into this clash.
- While both teams struggle offensively-Epitsentr netting just six goals total in their ten matches and Obolon' managing only four-the former boasts stronger expected goals (xG) metrics thanks largely to consistent shots taken from dangerous areas.
Speaking of standout players who might influence the match significantly: keep an eye on Joaquinete for Epitsentr-he's starting to look like their ace amidst adversity; after all he has been their leading goal-scorer despite having none officially recorded so far this season-his knack for positioning hints that positive regression may finally come his way.
On the other side of the pitch is Serhiy Sukhanov from Obolon'. He hasn't found the net himself but plays pivotal roles through assists when he's given space-a rarity lately for an offense drowning under pressure from opposing defenses.
From my vantage point among all these statistical trends-and recognizing recent history where past encounters resulted in draws-it appears both sides will test each other's resolve defensively before taking calculated risks offensively. However...a team consistently missing clear scoring opportunities rarely walks away victorious.
So here's my unfiltered prediction: if Epitsentr can capitalize early while maintaining a semblance of disciplined defense-they should snag all three points at home comfortably by perhaps a scoreline reflecting something akin to 2-0 or even greater if momentum shifts decidedly in their favor against an unsettled Obolon' side.
For those inclined toward betting lines? You might see something like -125 odds favoring Epitsentr to win outright while offering around +150 for Over 2.5 Goals considering both squads lackluster attacking displays lately which makes it tempting indeed!
As they say in football: when you think you've seen it all...just wait until kickoff!