Vasyl Baranov prepares his Kudrivka squad for a fascinating third-round clash against fellow Ukrainian Premier League newcomers SK Poltava this Sunday at Obolon-Arena in Kyiv. Both teams enter the match with identical records of one win and one loss, making this encounter particularly intriguing for fans of the Ukrainian top flight.
"We approach every match with the same mentality, regardless of who we face," Baranov might say about facing another promoted side.
The Kudrivka team captured attention after their sensational 3-1 victory over Oleksandriya in the opening round, showcasing an attractive playing style that has been winning over spectators. However, they stumbled in their second match, falling 2-1 to Zorya Luhansk. Meanwhile, Poltava bounced back from an initial 2-1 defeat to Rukh Lviv by securing a narrow 1-0 win against Veres Rivne in Kropyvnytskyi.
Interestingly, both clubs are operating under unusual coaching arrangements. While Vitaliy Kostyshyn is officially registered as Kudrivka's head coach, it's Baranov who's actually calling the shots from the technical area. Similarly, Poltava's official manager Pavlo Matviychenko – the oldest coach in the current championship at 56 – is away obtaining necessary coaching qualifications, leaving Igor Timchenko to handle matchday duties.
The contrast in playing styles should make for compelling viewing. Kudrivka has embraced a straightforward but effective approach, with players showing remarkable commitment to Baranov's tactics. Poltava, on the other hand, tends to play at a more measured pace while leveraging their strengths.
Bookmakers have installed Kudrivka as favorites with odds of 2.14, compared to 3.80 for a Poltava victory. The probability of a draw stands at 3.25.
Do these odds reflect the real picture? Hard to say. These teams have faced each other only twice previously – with Kudrivka winning once and the other match ending in a draw during last season's campaign in the First League.
Worth noting that Kudrivka has both scored and conceded in each of their UPL matches so far. Several players will be chasing milestone goals, including Andriy Totovytskyi of Kudrivka, who sits one away from his 35th UPL goal, while Poltava's Yevhen Opanasenko seeks his 10th in the top flight.
Neither side has fielded any foreign players in their opening fixtures, with Kudrivka using 18 different players (five UPL debutants) and Poltava utilizing 16 players (eight UPL first-timers).
The match kicks off at 13:00 local time with Artem Mykhailyuk of Kyiv appointed as the referee. Can either of these newcomers establish themselves as more than just passing visitors to Ukraine's premier division?
