The group stage of the Kharkiv Superleague is coming to an end. Teams have 1-2 games left to play, and we believe the upcoming round will bring more clarity to the main question – which teams will secure their place in the semifinals and, accordingly, continue their fight for tournament medals. For now, the standings show quite high density and competition, partly caused by the absence of a clear round-robin system, with all clubs having played different numbers of games. Therefore, their prospects can be assessed not so much by points earned as by points lost. However, this analysis is quite conditional, because the results in this Superliga edition have been, well, extremely unpredictable. Nevertheless. 

One thing can be said with certainty: Phoenix from Pokotilivka definitely won't be able to compete for a semifinal spot. The team has only one sensational point to their name (a 5:5 draw with Ibis from Novopokrovka) and one unplayed game – against group stage leader FC Kings. And even if our guys manage to pull off another feat in this tournament, it might only be enough to move off the last place. 

But even that won't be easy, because in the penultimate spot sits the very stubborn Lokomotiv. A team that plays interesting futsal and definitely occupies a position below their capabilities in this tournament race. Out of five matches played, Loko won only one, but in the four losses they considerably tested their opponents' nerves, losing in most cases by just a minimal margin. It's worth noting that the team has, along with Phoenix from Pokotilivka, the lowest number of goals scored (11), but also the lowest number conceded – 8, which speaks to competent and organized defensive play. The "railwaymen's" chances for the semifinals aren't zero, but they're in the realm of mathematical possibilities. And far too much in these calculations doesn't depend on Loko. Specifically – both Phoenix (this time from Kharkiv) and Ibis must lose both their remaining matches, while Metalist shouldn't earn more than 3 points in two games. But even such a confluence of circumstances gives Lokomotiv no guarantees, because then several teams would have 9 points each, and everything would be decided by additional parameters. 

Metalist's prospects are much more optimistic, though also far from simple. The team needs to take maximum points in the two final rounds of the group stage while hoping that competitors drop their points. And in this regard, much will be decided for Metalist in their direct match against Ibis. 

The situation for our team is slightly simpler when looking at the numbers in the table, and slightly more complex when considering the team's extremely unstable play, especially in defense. Our goals-conceded record is third in the league. And it's much higher than the two teams the "purples" still have to face. Considering that games against Olimp have traditionally been difficult for our team, and we haven't yet won against Lokomotiv at all, the finish of the group stage promises to be very challenging for the spring tournament champions. And although, unlike many others, Phoenix is in a situation where everything depends on themselves, the team's unpredictable play could play a cruel trick on them. Nevertheless, two victories in the remaining two matches guarantee Serhiy Grytsenko and Yuriy Vashchenko's charges a ticket to the semifinals. 

Roughly the same situation applies to Ibis from Novopokrovka – the only team in the tournament so far that hasn't tasted defeat, finishing three of their five matches in draws. Two victories in the remaining matches will secure the Kharkiv region team's continued fight for medals. But Ibis also faces a difficult finish. A game against FC Kings, confidently positioned at the top of the standings. And a match against a highly motivated Metalist. 

Third-placed Olimp has one point more than Ibis and Kharkiv Phoenix. And one might say the team could feel calmer than their competitors. But that's only if you don't look at whom exactly Olimp has left to play in the final group stage matches. Both Kharkiv Phoenix and North Kharkiv are very uncomfortable opponents for the team from Malinivka. In the previous tournament where the teams played together (spring Superliga), Olimp lost to both competitors by a 3-goal margin. And last Sunday, the Olimp players unexpectedly suffered a heavy defeat to Metalist (1:5). Therefore, despite their comfortable current position in the standings, defending it will be very difficult for Olimp. 

As for the multiple Superleague champions North Kharkiv, their situation is quite complicated. Despite currently being in second place, Renat Shaipov's charges have only one match left unplayed. And any result other than victory will almost certainly leave one of the main potential contenders for "gold" out of the playoffs. Provided, of course, that competitors take advantage of this slip-up, each of whom has two games in reserve. Therefore, to avoid becoming the authors of the tournament's main sensation, North Kharkiv needs to approach the match against Olimp as if it were a final. The "northerners" will certainly benefit from their significant experience in crucial matches. But at the same time, the team has no margin for error, which could psychologically constrain the guys. 

Well, who can be relatively calm about the outcome of the group qualifying – that would be the leaders (and, we should note, absolutely deserved ones) – FC Kings. Their current position fully justifies the club's name, and this team has become the tournament's main revelation. The "kings" already have one foot in the semifinals, and only a miracle could prevent them from stepping in with the other foot. And while one can believe in a possible loss of points in the match against Ibis, it's hard to believe that the leaders won't take what's theirs in the clash with Phoenix from Pokotilivka. Even considering that Phoenix, as it turned out, is quite capable of heroics. So FC Kings just needs to play in the final two rounds the kind of futsal they've been playing quite well. 

With such prospects, hopes, and mood, eight Superleague clubs approach the decisive matches for 4 playoff spots. But youth football is so unpredictable, and results can be so unexpected, that forecasts, as we said, are quite conditional. So we're just waiting for the weekend. We hope it will be quiet and peaceful in Kharkiv. 

And we're cheering for the boys – each for their own. And may the strongest win!