- Polissya Zhytomyr won this fixture 3-1 in March 2025 and 4-1 in August 2024. Chornomorets have not won this game since September 2023.
- Polissya have a 3rd place finish in the 2025 - 26 Ukrainian Premier League in their locker after winning 18, drawing 5 and losing just 7, with a goals record of 51-21.
- Polissya have a 4-0 friendly win over CSKA Sofia in June and a 2-1 win at WSG Tirol in their last summer friendly.
FC Chornomorets Odessa vs Polissya Zhytomyr preview: Polissya more likely to prevail in opening-day battle
Sunday's Ukrainian Premier League opener between Chornomorets Odessa and Polissya Zhytomyr promises to be a interesting matchup at Chornomorets Stadium, with Polissya likely to just have enough quality to edge out the newly-promoted hosts.
Chornomorets and Polissya represent the two extremes of the 2026 - 2027 UPL - one side coming up from the First League and the other finishing third in the UPL in 2025 - 26. Chornomorets arrive on the back of a strong campaign that saw them promoted with 18 wins, eight draws and three losses in the league, so they won't be a soft touch.
The hosts have looked good in parts of their summer friendlies, but not in others. Roman Hryhorchuk's men beat second-tier Bukovyna 3-1 and finished the 2025 - 26 season with a 1-0 win over Metalist Kharkiv to make a real statement, but then suffered a 2-0 defeat to UPL Oleksandriya. Their 4-2-3-1 style is built on structure, set pieces and fast counter attacks, with Vladyslav Herych their key outlet, after he finished as their top scorer with eight goals in 2025 - 26.
Visitors have the top-level experience
Ruslan Rotan's Polissya have a much more top-level pedigree to lean on after their third-place finish in 2025 - 26, but a couple of recent results indicate they are in good shape for this season too. The Polissya attack is firing on all cylinders and they are full of confidence.
Their summer performances have also been impressive, with a 4-0 friendly victory over CSKA Sofia and a 2-1 success at WSG Tirol in their final warm-up game.
Polissya are a more proactive and possession-based football team, with Rotan's 4-3-3 system and a 4-3-3 feel. Oleksiy Hutsulyak will provide the spark from wide areas, with Mykola Hayduchyk their main finisher after emerging among the 2025 - 26 UPL scoring leaders with nine goals.
Polissya have edge in Chornomorets clash
So, although we're likely to see a close game on opening day, we're going to side with the superior quality and top-level know-how of Polissya to get it done. FC Chornomorets Odessa vs Polissya Zhytomyr prediction points to Polissya as the likelier winners, and FC Chornomorets Odessa vs Polissya Zhytomyr betting tips also lean toward the visitors. Polissya are the solid favorites at 1.34 and, while that's fair enough, the Under 2.5 goals (1.92) and BTTS No markets (1.65) stand out too, with the latter our preference.
Polissya's two biggest wins in the 2023 - 2025 H2H cycle - we're taking them to record another away win, although this time we're forecasting a low-scoring 1-2 away win, which fits the FC Chornomorets Odessa vs Polissya Zhytomyr prediction.
