RB Leipzig vs Shakhtar Donetsk prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-05 19:00.
RB Leipzigâs slow start to the season was beginning to show signs of resurgence courtesy of ten goals across back-to-back victories against Wolfsburg (W 2-0) and fourth-tier club Teutonia Ottensen (W 8-0), but their 0-4 defeat away to fellow UEFA Champions League (UCL) participants Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend has left them in desperate need of confidence ahead of a fourth consecutive UCL group stage appearance.
They also limped and stumbled their way into their 2021/22 UCL campaign, losing three of four Bundesliga matches prior to their 3-6 drubbing away to Manchester City on the opening matchday on the way to a premature group stage exit. Not only are the one-time semi-finalists suffering from a similarly poor lead-up to their previous UCL journey, but comments from manager Domenico Tedesco that they âmissed the basicsâ against Frankfurt are alarming.
Their Ukrainian opponents Shakhtar Donetsk had an extra day to freshen up for this trip after consecutive 1-0 domestic victories, but could still be short of match practice owing to the late start of Ukraineâs Premier League. Theyâll also be burdened with the additional difficulty of playing all six matches outside their own country, though rapid ticket sales for their first âhomeâ game in Warsaw should lift their spirits.
Shakhtar aren't fancied to progress, especially after last seasonâs winless Group D effort (D2, L4) that left them with just four victories from their last four UCL group stage appearances (D10, L10). Three of those four wins were earned away from home (D4, L5), so perhaps that coupled with head coach Igor JoviÄeviÄâs determination to move Ukrainian football forward could spark some magical results on par with their two 2020/21 victories over Real Madrid.
Players to watch: Penalty taker Christopher Nkunku will relish the return to Leipzig, having scored in each of their last four home games in all competitions. Young Shakhtar midfielder Artem Bondarenko could be a goalscoring threat for the visitors, after finding the back of the net in four of his last seven competitive appearances (minimum ten minutes) for club or country.
Hot stat: Four of Shakhtarâs last five UCL trips to Germany have resulted in defeat by a 3+ goal margin, with a 3-2 win at Hoffenheim in 2018/19 the exception.