Friday's match between 'Metallurh-2' and 'Khust' will resume the rivalry in the third division of domestic football.

However, the central game of the round will take place on April 8th in Odessa, where second-placed 'Real Pharma' will host Buzhanska 'Niva', which leads its closest pursuer by seven points. Also on Saturday, Vinnitsa 'Niva' will face 'Chayka' and 'Zvyagel' will play against 'Vastiv.'

The match between 'Rubikon' and 'Kremen-2' will not take place as the Kyiv team informed the PFL that it has decided to prematurely end its participation in the first division.

Many experts lean towards the idea that if they beat their main competitor, football players from Buzhanska practically guarantee themselves a promotion. However, Odessites do not hide their desire to fight for the highest step of the honor podium until the end and are starting by trying to take revenge on 'Niva' for an earlier loss.

Preparing for new challenges, Buzhanska took part in the open winter PFL Cup where they finished second after amateurs from 'Left Bank'. It is important that all key players will be at the disposal of coach Serhiy Karpenko in spring. As for footballers of 'Real Pharma', they also occupy second place - in the winter league of Odessa, yielding only to local 'Titan'. By the way, one of the most goal-scoring players of the tournament became playing president Mykola Likhovidov - author of nine goals. Recently, Odessites have been reinforced by experienced utility player Konstantin Parhomchenko, younger brother of head coach Andriy Parhomchenko, and promising defender Yaroslav Kerebel from 'Mykolayiv.'

The match in Vinnytsia also raises interest where 'Niva' will host its table neighbor - 'Chayka'. Podolyany have already approached their best sports form, taking the lead in the final friendly against elite 'Lviv' - 2:1. Ranks of 'Niva' were reinforced by goalkeeper Maxim Kovalenko from 'Gorodok-Sport', defenders Volodymyr Hraichov from 'Kramatorsk' and Oleksandr Yevtikhov from 'Left Bank', half-back Oleksandr Kilik and forward Andriy Melenchuk from youth squads of 'Dnipropetrovsk-1' and 'Chornomorets' respectively.

The rest of the participants will find it difficult to break into the fight for prize places, although one cannot underestimate 'Zvyagel', which productively conducted a preparatory period, working fruitfully on the transfer market. In particular, the latest winter recruit of Polischuk is half-back Antoniy Emeri from 'Gorodok-Sport', who at some point played for Ukraine's youth team.

Table and calendar of the second league

As a reminder, first place in the second league is promoted directly, while second place plays an elimination match against the penultimate position in the first league.