Oleg Dulub on the first round of the UPL

The new season of the Ukrainian Premier League has started - in the first round, Shakhtar crushed Kudrivka (5:1), Karpaty convincingly defeated Kryvbas (4:1), and LNZ unexpectedly dropped points against Bukovyna (0:0).

Famous coach Oleg Dulub exclusively analyzed the first matches of the new UPL season for Sport.ua, praising Chornomorets, explaining Kryvbas's failure, and the game of the star-studded Shakhtar.

"Influence of the red card." Dulub on the match Zorya - Kolos.

– Zorya - Kolos - 2:0. In the opening match of the current UPL season, Zorya hosted Kolos. What are your emotions after the match? How did Viktor Skrypnyk's team manage to win confidently?

– Due to the red card for Kolos (Burda was sent off in the 8th minute of the game) - this had a significant impact. The early red card had a serious influence on the final result of this match. It's tough to play in such weather, especially against a team that always seeks to play attacking football.

Zorya played situationally in this match, and the situation turned out that they were playing with a man advantage from the 8th minute, and they utilized this advantage to the fullest. Jordan and Budkivskyi played well in this match; I always watch how he plays when I review Zorya's matches. I believe that Pylyp is an underrated forward. He scored a good goal against Kolos and looked quite good on the football field.

– Forever young striker...

– Let me tell you, in my opinion, Pylyp is underrated in terms of the Ukrainian national team, considering his statistics, he probably wouldn't hurt the national team - at some moments, it would be worth calling him up to the Ukrainian national team and using him in games where Ukraine would play from a position of strength.

– Do you think the door to the national team is closed for Budkivskyi?

– You know, the World Cup showed that if a person benefits the team, no one looks at their passport. You know, the situation in the training process has changed now, and there is a slightly different view on the age of footballers. If previously it was believed that at 30 - it's all over... Now the World Cup has shown that it's not the case.

"This result simply speaks...": Dulub on the match Kryvbas - Karpaty.

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– Kryvbas - Karpaty - 1:4. It's never easy in Kryvyi Rih. Patrick van Leeuwen's team started the match better and scored a goal in the middle of the first half, but the match ended with a crushing victory for Karpaty. What potential do Fran Fernandes' boys have this season?

– It's hard to say what potential they have. If we look at it, the defensive line remained the same as in the previous season, but Marchenko was added. Chachua plays a key role in the center of the field, replacing Yan Kostyanko... It looked quite good, but...

You know, I'm always interested in comparing the average age of the starting lineup. So, Kryvbas - 21.6, and Karpaty - 26.1... That's a gap. It's very difficult to compete against an experienced team at such a young age.

– Such a rout: regularity or coincidence? We know that Kryvbas plays a quite "entertaining" football with a large number of goals scored and conceded.

– This is precisely about the average age of this Kryvbas - the guys are 19-20 years old. It's very difficult to expect stability from them. The score on the scoreboard probably doesn't reflect what was happening on the football field. This result simply speaks to the fact that the more experienced players just showed their maximum. That's all!

– What do you expect from the renewed Kryvbas in this UPL season?

– It's hard to predict. Such teams should have at least 2-3 experienced players. Last year in Kryvyi Rih, Mendosa performed this function quite well - he's already at Shakhtar, and he deserved it. Now I don't see who can lead this young Kryvbas. It will be difficult, but if this young team falls apart, it won't be sweet for anyone. Although, they shouldn't expect any stability from them.

"The score should have been around 5:0": Dulub on the match Kharkiv - Veres.

– Kharkiv - Veres - 1-0. Bartulovich's team managed to push the opponent only towards the end of the match. How did you find the game?

– FC Kharkiv is a pretty good team, although I wouldn't say that they have significantly refreshed the squad. Last year's leaders play key roles: Kaliuzhnyi, Shabanov.

In my opinion, in the match against Veres, the score on the scoreboard (1:0) doesn't reflect what really happened on the football field. Let's look at the statistics: ball possession - 61 to 39, but in this match, ball possession didn't give an advantage; Expected goals: 3.8 versus 0.2 - it's just incredible. The score should have been around 5:0.

– It's not for nothing that the best player of the match was recognized as Veres goalkeeper Valentin Gorokh, who made quite a few key saves...

– It's expected, but this just shows that neither team is in optimal condition yet - everyone is still getting into the season, but considering that Kharkiv is an ambitious club that sets high goals for itself... Let's see! It will be interesting.

– What can you say about Oleg Shandr's players in the opening match of the new UPL season?

– You know, in my opinion, Vitaliy Boyko was missing. They lacked a player who could lead the team. I know Vitaliy very well, and he is a player who, even playing in a holding position, can give the team that stimulus. Another problem is the team's composition. They don't look like a fully assembled team yet.

"It was a tough but deserved victory": Dulub on the match Chornomorets - Polissya.

– Chornomorets - Polissya - 1-2. In my opinion, the match in Odesa turned out to be very interesting. At the post-match press conference, Roman Hryhorchuk stated that the "sailors" will definitely not be pushovers. Do you agree?

– I probably agree. Let's remember the goals scored in this meeting: the incredible goal by Robakidze from outside the penalty area, and then Velentnia's response... It was evident that Chornomorets was very well prepared for this game.

It's worth considering that it's very difficult to play in the UPL after European competitions. It's very difficult to readjust! Just three days ago, you were playing in European competitions, and in two days, you already have a league match.

If we talk about the game itself... You know, from what I saw, Lindon Emralahu's absence was noticeable in this match. Leandro Andrade didn't shine as brightly as expected.It was a difficult but well-deserved victory for Polissya in the game. I agree with Ruslan Rotan, who said: "It was easier for us to play against Copenhagen than against Chornomorets."

- What can help "Chornomorets" to succeed in the current UPL season?

- I believe that quick transitions from defense to attack, as demonstrated in the game against Polissya, can help Chornomorets succeed, but they need reinforcement. They need to look for a right-back - that's the first thing. I think Roman Hryhorchuk understands this perfectly and talks about it. In my opinion, "the sailors" have a pretty good attack: Avagimyan, Farasenka, Alefirenko, Herich.

It is important to understand that Odesa is a special city. A football city where fans demand good play. Although, it should be understood that the UPL is not the First League - here the speeds and level of play are completely different.

- After the defeat to Copenhagen, Hennadiy Butkevych said that Polissya's goal is the UPL title and the Ukrainian Cup. Is this realistic?

- Let me tell you, in the two matches against Copenhagen, I saw that Polissya is a quite decent team in terms of the level of play. They have a high level of competition, especially in the attacking line. If the management sets such a goal - it must be achieved.

I will be honest, I really liked Krushynskyi! I wouldn't consider the match against Chornomorets as a benchmark to evaluate Polissya. A tough game in European competitions and then an away game in the UPL.

"The key moment was the first penalty": Dulub on the match Epitsentr - Obolon.

- Epitsentr - Obolon - 3:0. A quite unexpected defeat from Serhiy Nahorniak's team: coincidence or regularity?

- It should be understood that it is always difficult to play against Obolon. "The Brewers" are a very tough team to play against, but the key moment was the episode with the first penalty in the Kyiv club's goal - a quite controversial moment.

- One of the key factors could be the return of Epitsentr to their home arena?

- I think so. The support for Serhiy Nahorniak's team at the home arena was quite good - many people, some probably watched even from behind the fence... So, this is also an important factor. Epitsentr returned home and secured a confident victory over a good opponent.

- Last season, Epitsentr struggled at the beginning of the championship, I can't say that they comfortably secured their place in the UPL after the 2025/26 season. How will the new season turn out for them?

- I think it will be a slightly different story here! The Spaniards have already adapted, Carlos Rochas has fully moved to Ukraine - a pretty good player. And they already have some experience - they spent a season in the UPL after all. The team has become stronger, definitely.

"It's very difficult to switch focus to the UPL": Dulub on the match Bukovyna - LNZ.

- Bukovyna - LNZ - 0-0. Perhaps the main surprise of the round is the loss of points by the "violets" against the UPL newcomer.

- 4-3-3 against 5-3-2. Tsara, Kodi David, Talles Brener - looking at the lineup, I see that LNZ had a significant rotation in the attacking line. LNZ has several players who can change positions qualitatively, like Denis Kuzik, for example. Having such a player, you can easily switch from a 5-3-2 scheme to a 4-3-3.

Again, the same story as with Polissya. When you return from European matches, it is very difficult to switch focus to the UPL. Let's remember the last season's performance of LNZ - the "violets" defeated Polissya, Shakhtar, and Dynamo immediately after the European matches of these teams, taking advantage of it. Now, Bukovyna has taken advantage of the same situation.

- LNZ played quite well, but Ponomariov's team lacked finishing. Bukovyna didn't create anything in the first half, but could have won the match in the end. Is it the European fatigue of the Cherkasy team or underestimation of the opponent?

- I don't think there is any underestimation of the opponent here. It should be noted that Bukovyna passed relatively well through the distance in the Ukrainian First League. Just consider the fact that just on Thursday LNZ played a match in Belgium against Gent, where they had to play 120 minutes. A difficult trip, a difficult field. But if we talk about the quality of play, while Polissya plays well, this quality is not yet visible in LNZ.

- LNZ has significantly strengthened the squad: Tsara, Kodi David, Talles Brener, Roman, Kitela... Do you think they are not threatened by the second season syndrome, or as they say, the "Oleksandriya disease"?

- I don't think so. This is absolutely not the same story. Clearly, the reinforcements are quite good. Tsara is an incredible player, especially for the UPL level. Looking at the LNZ roster - they are definitely not worse than last season, at least.

- What are the prospects for Bukovyna in the new UPL season?

- I think they will finish this season in the middle of the UPL standings, at least. Penkov, Busko, Bezuhlyi, Stasiuk, Vitenchuk, Zaderaka, Pidlepents, Kozhushko, Ilyin - almost the entire starting lineup, except Klepach, have played in the UPL. The average age of the team is quite high. It seems, 29.5 - this is a very experienced team.

I think the coaching hand of Serhiy Shyshchenko will come to the fore here, and what he showed in the last season of the Ukrainian First League... And, believe me, it is very difficult to win the Ukrainian First League - the level there is quite good. So, believe me, the coach is good there. I think everything will be fine for them. This is one of the most experienced teams in the UPL.

"This is not Kyiv's Dynamo": Dulub on the match Shakhtar - Kudrivka.

- Shakhtar - Kudrivka - 5:1. "Miners," as always, show courage in the UPL, but Kudrivka managed to "bite" the Donetsk team painfully at the end of the first half. How do you see this game?

- You see, Kudrivka managed to equalize in their very first attack. The Miners calmly pressed on? You know, if a team concedes 5 goals - it indicates problems in defense. If they manage to improve their game in defense and quickly transition from defense to attack... They have experienced players, but this team needs another player in the attacking line, at least one.

Was it easy for Shakhtar? I don't think it was easy. A conceded goal is a cold shower for Turan's team. I was surprised by the rather weak performance of Dmytro Riznyk, I don't understand why. On the positive side? A hat-trick by Kauan Elias. Gleiker Mendoza integrated quite well into the team, but Kudrivka is not Kyiv's Dynamo. Shakhtar has a very strong attack. I think these players were signed for the Champions League, not for the UPL.

- Which player can you name the MVP of the first round of the UPL and why?

- It's clear - Kauan Elias, who scored a hat-trick in the match against Kudrivka. I'll give this title to him - the first round and immediately a hat-trick. Although, Gleiker Mendoza also looked good.

- Who do you think became the best coach of the first round of the UPL?

- Oh, this is an interesting question, of course... In my opinion, considering all factors, the best coach of the first round was Ruslan Rotan, who defeated Roman Hryhorchuk, especially considering all these transfers and European Cup matches just a few days before the start of the UPL. Moreover, Polissya achieved a strong victory.

- Which team or match gave us the biggest sensation of the first round?

- I think it's Karpaty. No one expected how well Fran Fernandes' team would play, especially considering that the match took place in Kryvyi Rih. Usually, Karpaty have a very difficult start to the season.

- Which team was the most disappointing in this round of the UPL?

- I don't even know. I guess I'll choose Krivbas after all," Dulub summed up.