Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Kolos Kovalivka 1-0 despite being an away fixture to go 16 points
clear at the top of the Ukrainian topflight. The Championship Group will see Donetsk end up as
expected with Dynamo Kyiv following. Desna and FK Zorya Luhansk are on the same 49 points
after 26 games while Kolos Kovalivka sit below.
Donetsk are likely to retain the Premier-Liha title but this season there would be a post season
play-off for spots in Europe. This was introduced at the beginning of the current season. When
the season resumed following a protracted break due to Covid-19, the league started with a
banger as Shakhtar and Dynamo clashed. The defending champs won 3-1.
As the league resumed, there was a scare in the Relegation Group when Karpaty and Mariupol
clashed behind closed doors. After the game, there was the routine Corona Virus test which
showed that several players were infected. The match was rescheduled, and the players involved
went into self-isolation. This was one of the threats the league prepared for with asymptomatic
carriers. Ukraine have had almost 25 thousand cases but with less than 1000 deaths as at June,
per reports.
So far Dnipro leads that group with 34 points while Mariupol follows though seven points
behind. Karparty are well on their way to relegation to the First League.
In the Championship Group, Shakhtar face Oleksandriya next, Desna will clash with FK Zorya
while Dynamo host Kolos next week. As it stands Shakhtar is primed for a Champions League
spot while Dynamo will head to the Europa League.