- Metalist 1925 are fifth in the 2025-2026 Premier League, having picked up 46 points from 27 games.
- FC Epitsentr Dunayivtsi are currently 12th in the 2025-2026 Premier League with 27 points from 27 league games.
- FC Epitsentr have won four, drawn three and lost seven of their 14 Premier League away games this season.
Metalist must remain positive against stubborn Epitsentr
Bartulovic’s blueprint has made Metalist a very different proposition
Mladen Bartulovic took over as Metalist 1925 coach in June 2025 and, in his own words, set about ‘building a completely new team.’ He quickly got the squad to play with tempo, aggression and bravery, demanding that his players press high and with intensity in order to force turnovers and play on the front foot.
The blue-and-white club are fifth in the 2025-2026 Premier League and have been very consistent in their form, winning one, drawing three and losing one of their last five league games. At home, they have won one, drawn one and lost one of their last three and have averaged 1.08 goals per game in 13 Premier League fixtures in Kharkiv.
The visitors are unbeaten in their last five, although they have drawn four and won just once. This Metalist 1925 vs FC Epitsentr Dunayivtsi prediction highlights a run that includes a 2-2 away draw at Obolon Kyiv and a 3-2 home win over Polissya Zhytomyr, which has aided their bid to stay clear of the drop zone.
Epitsentr Dunayivtsi are a stubborn, well-organised team, set up to be difficult to break down, especially against the stronger teams in the league. Their coach, Sergiy Nagornyak, has done a fine job since taking over in September 2022 and Epitsentr are battling to stay clear of the drop zone.
Both teams to score is the play
Metalist are clear favorites to win this game, but we think the Metalist 1925 vs FC Epitsentr Dunayivtsi prediction market odds are pretty narrow at 1.6 with the visitors available at 5.3. The bookmakers are giving Metalist far too much credit as the 5th best side in the league for our money and this matchup will be a test of both coaches' philosophy.
This fixture tends to be a cagey affair, as the 0-0 scoreline of the reverse fixture five months ago shows. However, we can be optimistic of some entertainment on Saturday and like the odds of Both teams to score - Yes at 1.93 in our Metalist 1925 vs FC Epitsentr Dunayivtsi prediction.
Metalist’s gameplan is to play football at a high tempo and be aggressive, which should make them more inclined to press for a win. Epitsentr set up to absorb pressure and play direct, counter-attacking football and will attempt to stifle the hosts.
Peter Itodo is the talisman for Metalist and his clinical finishing ability is vital to the team’s success. The Nigerian has scored nine times in 23 league appearances and two of his team’s last three goals. Sydun has similar attributes for Epitsentr, having notched seven times in 26 league fixtures and three of their last six.
Metalist have scored just 14 times in 13 Premier League home fixtures and the visitors' defence has let in 22 in 14 away trips. Both of these sides have shown defensive frailties in recent weeks and Epitsentr’s recent unbeaten run may be enough to keep this close.
For those seeking further insights, our Metalist 1925 vs FC Epitsentr Dunayivtsi betting tips suggest that both teams are likely to find the net, echoing the trends seen in this season’s encounters.
