Kyrylo Nesterenko faces mounting pressure as his struggling "Alexandria" side prepares to host "Metalist 1925" this Saturday in the third round of the Ukrainian Premier League. The match kicks off at 13:00 at Nika Stadium in Alexandria, with Roman Blavatskyi appointed as the main referee.
Both teams have stumbled out of the starting blocks this season and are desperately hunting for their first victories. For Alexandria, the contrast with recent success couldn't be more stark.
"We need to reset and find our confidence again," a club source reportedly told journalists ahead of the critical fixture.
Just months ago, Alexandria celebrated a silver medal finish in the UPL, but the summer break brought dramatic changes. Key players departed, and Nesterenko took over coaching duties. Despite a promising 5-1 win over Inhullets in a friendly match, the team has since gone nine games without a victory across all competitions.
Their league start has been nothing short of disastrous - defeats to Kudrivka (1-3) and Obolon (0-1) have sent them tumbling to the bottom of the table. Discipline has become a major headache, with four red cards collected in just two matches. The five-match suspension of Miguel Campos has particularly weakened their defensive options.
The visitors from Kharkiv have returned to the elite division with a revamped squad and new head coach Mladen Bartulovich. Their summer preparation looked impressive with friendlies against notable opponents like Panathinaikos, Qarabag, Bochum, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and the Qatar national team. However, they've struggled to convert chances in official matches, managing only a draw with Obolon and suffering a 0-2 defeat to Kryvbas.
Interestingly, the head-to-head record heavily favors Alexandria, who have never lost to "Metalist 1925" in their six previous encounters, winning four and drawing two.
Transfer rumors continue to swirl around the Kharkiv club, with speculation about potential foreign signings, departures of key players, and loans for younger talent - a clear indication that their squad building remains a work in progress.
Can either team turn their season around this weekend? For Alexandria, playing at home might provide the boost they need, but with their disciplinary issues and defensive woes, nothing is guaranteed in this crucial early-season clash.
