LVIV (Interstat) — BK Zaporozhye will travel to face Goverla on Friday in a basketball matchup at Sports Palace Galychyna in Lviv, Ukraine. Both teams will be opening their seasons with 0-0 records, and each will be seeking a strong start before moving deeper into its schedule.

Goverla comes in as the home side after its most recent result, a 77-76 overtime loss to Rivne-Oshvsm on April 10. That finish could give Goverla motivation as it returns to its home floor. The team will try to use familiar surroundings to establish rhythm early, control the pace and avoid the close finish that marked its last outing.

BK Zaporozhye will be the visitor, looking to open with a road win. The team enters with a clean record and will aim to play efficiently on both ends. Road games early in a season can test communication, execution and composure, and BK Zaporozhye will need to handle those elements against a Goverla side playing in front of its home crowd.

The matchup at Sports Palace Galychyna brings together two teams with identical season records and little margin for error in the opening stages. Goverla will look to protect the paint and limit second-chance opportunities, while BK Zaporozhye will try to counter with ball movement and timely shooting. The game could hinge on which team settles faster and which side handles late-game possessions better.

Goverla’s most recent outing showed it can compete into overtime, even though it ended in a one-point defeat. The team will try to convert that experience into a better result at home. BK Zaporozhye, meanwhile, will attempt to spoil the home opener and begin its campaign with momentum on the road.

After Friday, BK Zaporozhye is scheduled to visit Khmelnitsky in its next game. Goverla is set to host BC Dnipro in its following contest. Those matchups will come quickly, making the result of this opener important for both teams as they build early-season confidence.

Both programs are starting fresh with 0-0 records, so the game offers an early chance to set a tone. Goverla will lean on home support and recent competitive experience. BK Zaporozhye will focus on road execution and taking advantage of scoring chances. The teams will meet in Lviv with an opportunity to begin the season on a positive note. The opening tip is set for Sports Palace Galychyna, where Goverla will have the advantage of playing at home and BK Zaporozhye will look to quiet the home side with early execution.

Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of BK Zaporozhye 83, Goverla 76.