Metal Kharkiv vs UCSA - Persha Liga

There is a notable edge to this Persha Liga fixture. When Metal Kharkiv meet UCSA at the home ground on May 23, 2026, both will sense an opportunity to land a telling blow. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off tie against Czech side Jablonec at Ibrox on Thursday, McInnes said: "I said that when I spoke to Lawrence.

Both Metal Kharkiv and UCSA will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Persha Liga. The hosts have struggled for consistency, LL in their last five pointing to a win rate of 37.5%. UCSA have struggled to string results together away from home, LW over their last five with a win rate of 25%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Metal Kharkiv average 1.13 per game to UCSA's 1.5, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. The on-loan Southampton striker had scored on his debut for Auxerre in defeat last weekend but followed it up with the winning goal against Nice to earn his old boss Will Still his first points in the job.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Metal Kharkiv and UCSA have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. After the loss, a lot of questions began to be raised about their different approach to preparing for the game.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. Priske's winner against Swansea came after a set-piece found Vicente and he squared the ball for the striker.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 2-2 draw is easy to envisage. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Persha Liga standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. The club are understood to favour a profile closer to Aurelien Tchouameni or a Premier League‑proven alternative rather than Manu Kone.