Vasyl Baranov prepares for his coaching debut in the Ukrainian Premier League as his newly promoted Kudrivka faces last season's silver medalists Oleksandriya in the opening round of the 2025/26 season this Sunday at Obolon Arena.
"This is a significant moment not just for me but for the entire Chernihiv region," Baranov might say ahead of the historic match that makes Kudrivka the 52nd club to ever compete in Ukraine's top flight.
The journey to the elite division wasn't easy for the Chernihiv region representatives. Kudrivka finished fourth in the First League last season before securing promotion through nail-biting playoff matches against the more experienced Vorskla (2-2 aggregate, winning 4-3 on penalties).
To strengthen their squad for the top-flight challenge, Kudrivka has been active in the transfer market. Among their new signings is veteran forward Denys Bezborodko, who brings valuable experience with 165 matches in the Ukrainian championship under his belt.
Meanwhile, Oleksandriya enters the season with significant changes. The club lost several key players who helped secure last season's impressive second-place finish. They also have a new manager at the helm – Kyrylo Nesterenko replaced Ruslan Rotan during the summer break.
Nesterenko's tenure hasn't started smoothly. His side suffered back-to-back defeats against Serbian club Partizan in Conference League qualification, crashing out with a 0-6 aggregate score. Not exactly the confidence boost you'd want before your league opener, right?
Despite these setbacks, Oleksandriya still boasts impressive attacking talent. Wingers Juan Alvina and Tedi Tsara, who played crucial roles in last season's success, remain with the club and will likely cause problems for the newcomers.
Bookmakers clearly favor the more established side, with Oleksandriya's victory priced at 1.52, while a Kudrivka win carries odds of 8.00. A draw stands at 3.90.
Interestingly, this match features coaching debuts for both managers in different contexts – Baranov makes his first-ever appearance as a UPL coach after guiding Kudrivka through 20 First League matches, while Nesterenko leads his second UPL club after previously managing Stal Kamianske.
The game also offers personal milestones for some players. Artem Shulianskyy could make his 50th UPL appearance for Oleksandriya, while Dmytro Myshnov is hunting for his 15th goal in the top division.
Can the newcomers from Chernihiv spring a surprise in their historic debut, or will Oleksandriya's quality shine through despite their European disappointment? Sunday's 13:00 kickoff at Kyiv's Obolon Arena should provide all the answers.
