As the physical demands of modern football continue to rise, tracking player movement data has become essential for identifying top-performing young talents. Leveraging the advanced capabilities of the Comparisonator Physical Module, we’ve analyzed the Ukrainian Premier League to spotlight the best U23 players across three critical physical parameters during the 2024/25 season so far.
This detailed analysis equips clubs, scouts, and analysts with valuable insights into emerging athletes whose physical performances set them apart on the pitch. Powered by AI and extracted from broadcast data, these metrics provide accurate and contextual benchmarks for player evaluation.
In the Sprinting Distance category—tracking movement between 20-25 km/h—Ilya Krupskyi leads the rankings, demonstrating consistent high-tempo involvement. Yevgeniy Pastukh tops the charts in Total Distance covered, emphasizing his exceptional endurance and work rate. Meanwhile, Denys Kuzyk excels in Running Distance, showcasing his explosiveness and frequent high-speed runs exceeding 20 km/h.
These findings not only highlight Ukraine’s next generation of talent but also reinforce the strategic value of physical analytics in recruitment and squad building. Stay tuned as we continue to reveal more data-driven standouts throughout the season.
Please note that all numbers are per 90 min data from the 2024/25 Season – So Far.
Sprinting Distance
Ilya Krupskyi’s CompaGPT Physicals report:
Krupskyi leads the category with an average of 39.67 per match, outperforming Denys Kuzyk (38.6). This indicates exceptional ability to quickly reduce speed, an asset in defensive situations and when transitioning from attack to defense. This skill can be tactically exploited to disrupt opposing players in fast-break scenarios. Leading the rankings with 270.48 meters per match, Krupskyi’s sprinting prowess indicates explosive speed and agility, beneficial for both offensive drives and defensive recoveries. His capability to cover significant ground quickly can support tactical strategies involving rapid transitions. Averaging 19.9 sprints per match, Krupskyi is the top performer, slightly ahead of Yvan Dibango (19). This reflects his high frequency of bursts of speed, useful in both chasing down opponents and creating offensive opportunities.
Krupskyi’s strengths are evident in his leading rankings for High Deceleration Count, High Speed Running Distance – 2nd Half, Sprinting Distance, Sprinting Distance – 2nd Half, and Sprint Count, showcasing his physical prowess and endurance. These attributes make him a valuable asset in defensive transitions and offensive counter-attacks. Areas for potential improvement include increasing his overall work rate (M/min average) and enhancing his max speed, which may further bolster his effectiveness on the pitch.
Ilya Krupskyi (’04) (RB) – Vorskla
Total Distance
Yevgeniy Pastukh’s CompaGPT Physicals report:
Yevgeniy Pastukh ranks first among his peers with an average of 11,074.5 meters covered per match. This surpasses the second-ranked Georgiy Sudakov, who averages 10,998.22 meters. This indicates Pastukh’s exceptional endurance and work rate, making him highly suitable for roles demanding extensive coverage across the pitch, such as a box-to-box midfielder. With an average of 1,029.11 meters per match, Pastukh excels in maintaining high-intensity effort, significantly outperforming Dejan Popara’s 751.69 meters. This positions him as a key player in high-tempo games, capable of sustaining pressure and contributing to both defensive and attacking phases effectively. His high-speed running distance averages 795.33 meters per match, leading over Oleg Ocheretko’s 567.73 meters. This suggests Pastukh’s capacity to execute rapid movements, useful in counter-attacking scenarios or when exploiting spaces in the opponent’s defense.
Yevgeniy Pastukh demonstrates remarkable physical attributes, particularly in total distance covered, medium acceleration, high-intensity distance, and high-speed running. These strengths underline his endurance, versatility, and ability to sustain high-tempo efforts across matches. While his initial acceleration and first-half contributions present areas for potential growth, his overall performance establishes him as a vital player for roles demanding significant physical commitment and adaptability.
Yevgeniy Pastukh (’04) (CMF) – Rukh Lviv
Running Distance
Denys Kuzyk’s CompaGPT Physicals report:
Denys leads with an average of 1300.39 Running Distance per match, showcasing his stamina and work rate. Compared to Juan Alvina, who is slightly behind, this suggests Kuzyk’s capacity to cover large areas on the pitch, which can be leveraged for both offensive and defensive contributions, providing width and support across the field. Kuzyk ranks first among 16 players in his position, with an impressive average of 36.59 High Deceleration Count per match. This indicates his exceptional ability to rapidly decelerate, which can be crucial for defensive transitions and maintaining control during fast-paced plays. His proficiency in this area might be tactically significant for disrupting opponent attacks and regaining possession.
Denys Kuzyk’s top performance parameters, such as High Deceleration Count and Running Distance, highlight his stamina and ability to control play, marking him as a valuable asset in maintaining team structure and pressuring opponents. While his Max Speed and Sprinting Distance in later stages of matches indicate areas where he may improve, Kuzyk’s overall physical performance remains commendable, showing tactical versatility and endurance on the field.
Denys Kuzyk (’02) (RW) – Kryvbas KR
