Shakhtar Donetsk vs Barcelona prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-06 17:45.
Shakhtar Donetsk proved a tough nut to crack in a 2-1 defeat against Barcelona on matchday three of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stages, but the result left them three points adrift of second-placed Porto. That was Marino Pušić's first game in charge of the club, and he’s since followed it up with back-to-back domestic wins, helping to build momentum for potential revenge at the neutral venue of the Volksparkstadion.
It’s not just the reverse fixture that Shakhtar will be looking to avenge, as they’ve lost five of their seven UCL H2H meetings (W2) – their joint-most number of defeats in the competition against a single club! Any hopes of changing that narrative look slim based on their recent record, as Shakhtar have won just once across their last eight UCL matches (D3, L4).
Despite their dominant H2H record, Barcelona have never previously beaten Shakhtar twice in a UCL group stage. Xavi’s men travel to Germany having enjoyed a perfect European campaign to date (W3), and if that trend continues, it will be just the third time the Blaugrana have won their first four UCL group games – while they could also win an 11th consecutive game against Ukrainian clubs.
Victory could seal their progression to the UCL knockout stages for the first time in three seasons, and confidence is bound to be high after securing a last-gasp 1-0 win at Real Sociedad. Back-to-back UCL away wins is a good omen heading into this trip too, although four defeats in the preceding five such matches (W1) – each without scoring – suggests they can't take anything for granted.
Players to watch: Oleksandr Zubkov has been a busy man for Shakhtar recently, contributing (G2, A2) across three of his last four games – the only exception came against Barcelona in the reverse fixture. Ferran Torres scored and assisted in that match, making it a ninth consecutive win for the Spaniard when he scored in the UCL group stage.
Hot stat: Shakhtar have conceded the match opener in seven of their last eight UCL games, including each of the last five.