Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average, don’t follow up
Denys Popov
Player profile:
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 17/02/1999
- Current Club: Dynamo Kiev
- Career: Dynamo Kiev
- Position: Centre Half
- Preferred foot: Right
Denys Popov is a centre back with a good physicality which gives him a natural advantage in his function of defender. He is 186cm tall and is muscular, using his physicality well in duels.
He is more comfortable when he is defending on the move. His good reading of the game, allows him to make interceptions and allow the team to recover quickly and maintain the pressure. He is effective in defending while advancing but also when it has to cover, he closes the space well and his well-timed tackles stop the opposition. He is the source of several interesting interceptions.
Shakhtar’s lack of pressure allowed him to have more freedom and be comfortable in the buildup, which he was highly involved in. He showed good ball progression and some accurate long bals.
He struggled more when he had to defend in his own box in a static position. The lack of space prevented him from pressing up as he likes to and not allow the attacker space. He scored a late header as well to secure the win.
Rating: A2
He has good physical and technical quality to help the team at different levels. He can still progress in some aspect of the game, which will come with more experience in the high level.
Vitaliy Mykolenko
Player profile:
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 29/05/1999
- Current Club: Dynamo Kiev
- Career: Dynamo Kiev
- Position: Left Back
- Preferred foot: Left
Vitaliy Mykolenko is strong athletically with strength and speed which allow him to bring attack and defend down his wing.
The good relationship with Shepeliev and Verbic allows him to adjust his position on the field. Verbic is a player who likes to occupy a narrow inside, so Mykolenko pushes high and offers width. This offensive position allowed him to find a crossing positions.
Despite his physique which gives him an advantage in duels, he was late in his interceptions, he committed several fouls which led to free kicks in dangerous areas for Shakhtar.
Rating: A2
He showed physical and technical qualities to be dangerous for his side. He needed to find a better balance and concentrate more so as not to put himself in a delicate position in defence but he has all the resources to be an excellent left back.
Volodymyr Shepelev
Player profile:
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 01/06/1997
- Current Club: Dynamo Kiev
- Career: Dynamo Kiev
- Position: Central Midfielder
- Preferred foot: Right
In the first minutes of the match, Dynamo Kiev showed a dominant position by wanting to play high to put pressure on Shakhtar. Shepelev was important to his team’s press. He maintained a high position and pressed well to force Shakhtar to retreat.
He’d drop deep to support buildup, he’d drop into the back line next to the CB to form a back three, allowing the wing backs to move higher. In attack, he occupies this position to allow Mykolenko to have this freedom to attack. When Mykolenko was not in a high position on his side, Shepelev came in this wing position to complete the triangle with Verbic and Mykolenko. He had technical quality which allowed him to keep control of the ball in the pressure zones to progress in the Shakhtar third.
At the end of the match, a lack of concentration meant he had to make a dangerous tackle on Taison and got a red card.
Rating: B1
Viktor Tsygankov
Player profile:
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 15/11/1997
- Current Club: Dynamo Kiev
- Career: Dynamo Kiev
- Position: Right Winger
- Secondary position: Attacking Midfielder
- Preferred foot: Left
From the start, he penetrated the penalty area and could have won a penalty. He worked hard, adjusting his position with the other offensive players. He was available between the lines, allowing to initiate transitions with his left foot but also by picking up the ball in a deeper position.
He needed better decision making and a more dangerous final ball in the final third to create better chances from the positions he was in.
He is technically strong and can vary his influence in attack, being both a creator and a goal threat. He seems ready to step up to a higher league.
Rating: A1
Artem Besedin
Player profile:
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Age: 24
- Date of birth: 31/03/1996
- Current Club: Dynamo Kiev
- Career: Dynamo Kiev, Metalist (L)
- Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Right
Besedin worked hard in this game and pressed well high up the pitch but could be reckless in the challenge at times. This aggressiveness allowed him to win the ball several times in dangerous positions to launch counter-attacks.
A mobile player, he swapped his position with Tsygankov at times, putting him in deeper position to offer support and hold up play. In a more offensive position he was often isolated. He was not really able to create scoring opportunities in the game. Overall he worked hard in his defensive role is a plus to help the team but needed to be a bigger threat on goal.
Rating: B2
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