Kudrivka vs Shakhtar Donetsk

The reigning champions open their campaign Shakhtar Donetsk arrive off a dominated season: seventy-two points, twenty-two wins in thirty rounds, seventy-one goals scored and just twenty-one conceded, the best record in the competition in both phases. They are the club that won the title and present themselves as the main favourites for the new season too. An opponent off a complicated campaign Kudrivka closed the previous season thirteenth with thirty-two goals scored and forty-eight conceded, surviving through the playoffs. It's worth remembering that Shakhtar have long played their games away from Donetsk because of the conflict, a condition that makes the home-away difference less marked. Considering the technical gap, the prospect of an away win I read at around 78%. A preview with the reigning champions clearly better equipped.