That's really interesting is the current season in the Premier League. The first stage of our championship is about to end, and before the last round was another burning question: who of the contenders for getting into the top six will be, in the full sense of this expression, the third superfluous. The situation, frankly, is very similar to the old children's game called "musical chairs". Its essence is as follows. In the form of a circle, nine chairs are placed, for the seat of which nine participants compete. Superfluous gradually drop out, thus determining the winner. In our case, there are only two such improvised chairs in the form of treasured vouchers in the first six, and one will have to make room for someone. The chances to compete for the European Cup are Veres, Mariupol and Olimpic, and the last two teams in the near future will converge in full-time combat. Let's analyze the chances of all three clubs on the successful outcome of the first stage of the season.

Veres At the moment Rovencians occupy the winning fifth position. Such a week ago it could seem like a fantastic dream, considering the calendar of the wards of Yuri Svirkov in three games of the first stage. In Poltava, Veres minimally yielded, giving rise to many skeptical opinions about his future prospects. Then it could seem that now the chances of a debutant of the elite to hit the coveted six have fallen to the minimum. Moreover, it was to be, even if formally home, but, nevertheless, a duel with Dynamo. And this people's club fought a sensational battle (3: 1)!.

These three points have made the club from Rivne avant-garde in a three-way correspondence fight with two representatives of Donbass, and now for a positive outcome, the team Svirkov should just be beaten at the outsider's exit Steel. However, not everything is so simple and with the "steelworkers". Nikolay Kostov spent a serious creative work in the winter, which was very noticeable in the victorious match against Alexandria (2-0). Again, there is another point. As a rule, after successful matches against the grants, other Ukrainian clubs often fail the following fights: it was not just once or twice. Meanwhile, with all the ambiguity of the current situation, the chances of Veresa seem most preferable. True, mathematically Rovencians can be detached. This will happen if the "red-black" lose to Steel 0: 9, and Mariupol and Olympique will draw a 2: 2 draw. However, we will be realists.

Mariupol After the Lausanne verdict on the supercandal match of the first round between the Azov and Dynamo, the team of Alexander Babich added to herself a full three credits in a piggy bank. And by the way! The struggle for getting into the "six favorites" has sharpened to the limit, and now Mariupol occupies the sixth line, ahead of Olympic one point. And this very point may turn out to be the desired one. The fact is that in the nearest round (I recall, the final one at the first stage), the Azovites in their native arena, now bearing the name V. Boyko, will take the team of Roman Sanzhar. That's what it is, the magic of the calendar! Favorites a priori is the collective of Babich, especially if we consider in what a wonderful form the leaders are Sergei Bolbat, Andrei Totovitsky and Andrei Boriachuk. The latter not so long ago already marked a hat-trick at the gates of Zirka (0: 3), and now will in every possible way strive to develop personal and team successes. In addition, Mariupol will arrange a hypothetical draw, while for guests another outcome other than victory will be a real catastrophe.

It's the Donetsk people who are in the least profitable position. And indeed, this season is very contradictory for them. Many lost points in matches with weaker opponents, another upgrade of the composition, and in the match against Dynamo at the Olympic (1-0) - and completely bad luck, along with the most insulting missed goal. Such a nightmare film you will not see. Now it is necessary to win (and only win!) In Mariupol, where the owners will also have their own interests ....

Meanwhile, Roman Sanzhar has long established himself as one of the most promising coaches of the country. Practically in every half-year, entering with a new clip of performers, the mentor of the "Olympians" manages to give out the result.

Remember at least two past seasonal draws with going to the champion of the Miner or a victory over Dynamo (2: 1). And in general, the historic final fourth place in the past championship was largely held precisely thanks to the diligent mentor. Olympic, like Zarya and Alexandria, is, as they say, a coaching team, and such an unspoken status so far fully justifies. So, to write off from a micro-race for the first six Donetsk people in advance it is obviously not necessary. But how it will happen in reality, we will know next Sunday.