In Wednesday, February 20th, the match between "Colos" and "Chornomorets" will resume the Ukrainian U-19 Championship, in which after 17 played rounds "Shakhtar" (49) has pulled ahead by five points from "Dynamo" (44).

"Dynamo" leads "Karpaty" (38) by six points, who themselves are three points ahead of "Colos" (35). The distance between "Colos" and "Zorya" (27) is more substantial — eight points. Therefore, with a high degree of probability, it can be assumed that the top four teams will compete for the podium positions in the U-19 Championship at the end of the season 2024/2025 — "Shakhtar," "Dynamo," "Karpaty," and "Colos."

Moreover, the current top scorer — forward Fedir Zadorozhnyi (18 goals in 15 matches of the first half of the season) — spent his winter training with "Dynamo," which recalled the talented attacker from a loan at "Zorya." This could significantly impact the attacking potential of the Luhansk team.

The greatest chances to break into the battle between "Shakhtar" and "Dynamo" for the championship title and a Europa League spot are held by "Karpaty," who started the season under Denis Kozhanov's leadership, but continued under Oleh Holiuk. Lvivians concluded the first half of the championship with a seven-match winning streak, which currently ranks among the top three in the current tournament (Shakhtar U-19 has an ongoing 10-match winning streak, Dynamo's was interrupted by an eight-match run in October).

We also remind that "Shakhtar" (trainer — Oleksiy Belyk) and "Dynamo" (trainer — Ihor Kostyuk) concluded their UEFA Youth League campaign on February 11, conceding to opponents from Germany and Italy, and can now fully focus on the Ukrainian U-19 Championship matches.

And decisive encounters between teams in the top quartet could define the spring half of the season. The first such match will take place already in the first round of 2025: On February 22, "Dynamo" will host "Karpaty."

18th Round: "Dynamo" — "Karpaty".
21st Round: "Karpaty" — "Shakhtar".
25th Round: "Shakhtar" — "Colos".
26th Round: "Shakhtar" — "Dynamo".
29th Round: "Colos" — "Karpaty".
30th Round: "Dynamo" — "Colos".

However, unpleasant surprises for the leaders could be prepared by teams that lacked stability in autumn but still managed to secure a place in the top half of the standings.

It is also worth reminding that one match from the 14th round ("Vorskla" — LNZ) remains to be played, and its date will be announced later.

Ukrainian U-19 Championship. Standings

In brackets — the team's position in the final standings of the season 2023/2024.

Top Scorers: Fedir ZADOROZHNYI ("Zorya") — 18, Dmytro KREMCHANIN ("Dynamo") — 12, Vladyslav GERICH ("Dynamo"), Viktor TSUKANOV ("Shakhtar") — 10, Ivan DENISOV ("Rukh"), Oleksandr LOMAGA ("Shakhtar") — 9, Roman GEREŠ ("Left Bank"), Matviy PONOMARENKO ("Dynamo"), Vladyslav TYTYUNOV ("Shakhtar") — 8, Dmytro FORSYK ("Karpaty"), Daniil YUSHKO ("Obolon'") — 7, Oleksiy BEZRUCHUK ("Colos"), Matviy BURENKO ("Karpaty"), Andriy IVASYIY ("Karpaty"), Taras LYAH ("Obolon'"), Volodymyr MULIK ("Kryvbas") — 6.