The two clubs first met back in 1938 in Kyiv in the Soviet Top League with Dynamo winning it 2–0.
At the time, Dynamo Kyiv was the main representative of Ukraine in the Soviet League, while Shakhtar initially had some difficulties to secure their place there.
The Donetsk team, however, was considered to be the main representative of the Ukrainian SSR other than Dynamo, representing the most industrialized and heavily urbanized Donbass region in the eastern part of Ukraine.
In a few occasions Shakhtar even managed to place higher than the Dynamo's "Capitals" in League, but for the most of the time Dynamo had more success head-to-head.
Their meetings were not as popular in the Soviet League outside of Ukraine as the Moscow - Kyiv face off particularly between Dynamo and Spartak.
The two clubs first met back in 1938 in Kyiv in the Soviet Top League with Dynamo winning it 2–0. At the time, Dynamo Kyiv was the main representative of Ukraine in the Soviet League, while Shakhtar initially had some difficulties to secure their place there. The Donetsk team, however, was considered to be the main representative of the Ukrainian SSR other than Dynamo, representing the most industrialized and heavily urbanized Donbass region in the eastern part of Ukraine. In a few occasions Shakhtar even managed to place higher than the Dynamo's "Capitals" in League, but for the most of the time Dynamo had more success head-to-head. Their meetings were not as popular in the Soviet League outside of Ukraine as the Moscow - Kyiv face off particularly between Dynamo and Spartak.
Klasychne derby