Opponent's presentation - Kharkiv on the "Obolon" website

On Saturday, September 5, Kyiv's Obolon will play the 5th round match of the UPL. The "Brewers" will meet FC Kharkiv in Hnidyn. The match will take place at the "Arena Livyi Bereh". The match will start at 13:00.

Dossier

Year of foundation: 2016

President: Bohdan Boyko

Head coach: Mladen Bartulovich

Home stadium: "Arena Livyi Bereh"

Capacity: 4,700 spectators

Results in the 2025/26 season: 5th place in the UPL - 51 points in 30 matches, 13 wins, 12 draws, and 5 losses. Ukrainian Cup semifinalist - defeat to Chernihiv in a penalty shootout 5-6.

History

The football club "Kharkiv" was founded in 2016 under the name "Metalist 1925". The team was created to preserve professional football in Kharkiv and in a short time went from the amateur level to the elite division of Ukrainian football. In June 2026, the club officially changed its name to "Kharkiv".

The first team was largely formed from graduates of Kharkiv football. In the debut season, "Metalist 1925" became the silver medalist of the Ukrainian amateur championship and earned the right to play in the Second League.

In the 2017/18 season, Kharkiv finished third in the Second League and were promoted. The next three seasons the team spent in the First League, gradually approaching the main goal - promotion to the Premier League.

In the 2020/21 season, "Metalist 1925" became the bronze medalist of the First League and secured a place in the UPL.

Debut and performances in the UPL

The first season in the top division was played by the team in 2021/22. After 18 matches, Kharkiv was in tenth place, but due to the full-scale invasion of Russia, the championship was not completed.

In the 2022/23 season, "Metalist 1925" finished in 12th place, and the following year the team could not maintain its place in the elite. In the 2023/24 season, Kharkiv finished in 16th place and were relegated to the First League.

After relegation, the team spent a season in the second division and again had the chance to return to the UPL.

Return to the Premier League

In the 2024/25 season, "Metalist 1925" finished the First League championship in third place, earning 36 points in 22 matches. To qualify for the UPL, Kharkiv had to play playoff matches against "Livyi Bereh".

In both matches, "Metalist 1925" won with the same score of 1-0 - in the first match and in the return leg. Thus, the team returned to the elite division of Ukrainian football.

Summer break

During the summer break, "Kharkiv" significantly refreshed the squad. The team was joined by goalkeeper Georgiy Yermakov, midfielder Oleksandr Yatsyk, Argentine midfielder Rafael Profini, and Venezuelan forward Carlos Paraco. Also, forward Christian Mba joined the team on loan from "Chornomorets".

At the same time, "Kharkiv" parted ways with several players. Among them were midfielders Vladlen Yurchenko, Vladyslav Kalitvintsev, Ivan Lytvynenko, and Ari Moura, defenders Vasyl Kravets, Ihor Snurnitsyn, and Yevheniy Pasich, as well as goalkeeper Oleh Mozil. Samuel Obinna continued his career at Czech club "Jablonec".

Players who were loaned out include Artem Smoliakov, who went to "Los Angeles", Sebastian Castillo - to "Deportivo La Guaira", Christian Mba - to "Chornomorets", and Dmytro Kapinus, who joined Kyiv's "Obolon".

History of encounters

Obolon and Kharkiv have played 12 official matches against each other.

First League

Kharkiv - Obolon 0:1 (08/18/2018)

Obolon - Kharkiv 1:0 (03/27/2019)

Kharkiv - Obolon 2:1 (10/19/2019)

Obolon - Kharkiv 3:0 (08/07/2020)

Kharkiv - Obolon 0:1 (10/31/2020)

Obolon - Kharkiv 1:1 (05/08/2021)

Ukrainian Premier League

Obolon - Kharkiv 1:0 (10/08/2023)

Kharkiv - Obolon 1:1 (04/22/2024)