UEL GW4 - Metalist’s European Rise

Cleiton Xavier celebrates scoring for Metalist Kharkiv against Rosenborg (GW4)

Metalist Kharkiv will join Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan, Rubin Kazan, Lyon and Hannover 96 in the knockout phases of the Europa League as they ensured their place with a 3-1 victory against Rosenborg in game week 4. Alongside some of the competition’s big names, Metalist have proven in the last couple of seasons that they are more than capable of going far in the tournament, reaching the Quarter Finals last season, eventually being knocked out by Sporting Lisbon. Their success is typical of Ukrainian sides this season in Europe, with Shakhtar Donetsk continuing to excel in the Champions League alongside Dynamo Kiev who are at the very least holding their own, while Dnipro Dnipropetrovs’k are one point away from joining Metalist in the next round of the UEL. Metalist are likely to progress further into the competition, with a growing cluster of quality players that should be helping push Metalist forwarded into the Champions League spots in years to come however, for some of their fans it remains a distant dream.

Domestically the Ukrainian Premier League’s rules apply that only 7 non-Ukrainian players can be fielded at one time during a match to help encourage more home grown talent through to the first teams of the European challengers. Metalist are a side whose success has been built despite this rule instead of alongside it, as the vast majority of the squad are overseas nationals. The clearest indication of this is in the Europa League where no such restrictions are forced on the clubs. A usual Metalist team in Europe, only consists of one Ukrainian born player, veteran goalkeeper Olexander Horyainov, and even against Rosenborg he didn’t start at the expense of Slovak understudy Disljenkovic. Leaving the only Ukrainian registered player on the pitch as Brazilian born Edmar, whose Ukrainian citizenship application has eased Metalist’s worries fulfilling the quota. While, a side including many Argentine and Brazilian players are succeeding in Europe, the domestic achievements of Metalist are rather hampered as they have had to bring in fringe Ukrainian born squad players in to meet the ruling.

Metalist’s effect on the national team squad is minimal if at all, with Shakhtar, Dynamo and Dnipro sharing the top talent the country has to offer. Metalist, who are owned by one of the richest men in Ukraine Oleksandr Yaroslavsky, have tended to put money into their successful scouting networks overseas rather than inside Ukraine, and progression into challenging for the two UCL spots has suffered because of this. While sitting in 7th in the UEFA coefficient ranking tables, Ukraine are still a considerable way behind catching Portugal in 6th, and an elusive 3rd champions league qualifying spot. Until then the likelihood is that Shakhtar, Dynamo and now Dnipro are going to challenge for qualification to the most glamorous tournament in Europe as they possess
Ukraine’s top talent.

Metalist Kharkiv’s usual UEL line-up

(player’s registered nationality)

While the quota problem hinders Metalist’s domestic and UCL qualification ambitions, they continue to impress onlookers in the Europa League. Three wins, and one draw in the group stage this season is a decent effort, with the only draw coming in Germany against section favourites Bayer Leverkusen. Metalist inevitably offer a stylish and skilful attack, with Brazilian’s Taison and Willian working well in tandem in the attacking third with Argentine duo Cristaldo and Sosa. The real threat of the side however is just in behind the forward line with Cleiton Xavier offering plenty of adventure and goal scoring ability coming from attacking midfield. The Brazilian has three goals in the group stage, with an extra goal in the qualifiers and on last season’s evidence where he collected 13 goals overall, he is likely to continue with his threat going into the knockout stages.

The goals last Thursday were typical of Metalist’s rise; artistic, on the counter attack and in some cases world class. Taison’s 4th minute strike that brought comparisons with a similar volley by Marco Van Basten was the true highlight of GW4 and with further team goals from Cleiton Xavier and Juan Torres they ensured the progression that their performances warranted. Next up the crucial tie at home to Bayer to probably decide who will come top of the section. With a solid home record, and a licence to roam of their South American strike force Metalist may edge the Germans out into second.