Shakhtar Donetsk vs Atalanta prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-01 16:45.
[p]Beginning their journey in the inaugural UEFA Champions League (UCL) league phase with a goalless draw in Bologna, Shakhtar Donetsk make their âhomeâ bow in Gelsenkirchen. Unable to play in Donbas due to instability in the region, Shakhtar are used to the nomadic lifestyle in Europe, playing home games in Warsaw in 2022/23, before Hamburg in 2023/24, between which they registered a balanced record in the UCL (W2, D2, L2). [/p]
[p]The Ukrainians are no strangers to the biggest stage, missing just one of the last 19 UCL editions, although they enter this one looking to end a run of six group/league stage eliminations. Standing in their way are Europa League holders Atalanta, and the Pitmen know all too well what kind of challenge Italian opponents present, having conceded a whopping 61 times with just 21 goals in reply across 32 previous European H2Hs against Serie A sides (W7, D6, L19). [/p]
[p]Having also begun with a draw in this competition against Arsenal, Atalanta could only manage another stalemate when they faced Shakhtarâs round-one opponents, Bologna, at the weekend (1-1). That contributed to their floundering start in Serie A (W2, D1, L3), which will hardly inspire confidence as La Dea travel to Germany looking to record what would be just a second UCL victory across ten games (D4, L4). [/p]
[p]Since defeating Lecce in their opening away game of the season, Atalanta have since failed to win their last three road trips (D1, L2), a run which will hardly inspire confidence amongst Gian Piero Gasperiniâs men as they look to end a four-game rut in UCL away action (D2, L2). Despite the negatives, that four-game run was preceded by Atalanta winning five of their first seven UCL trips, one of which was a stunning 3-0 win away against Shakhtar. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Since missing a penalty in the opening round, Shakhtarâs Georgiy Sudakov has scored in both of their domestic outings since – all three of his club strikes this term came beyond half-time. For Atalanta, Ademola Lookman is averaging at least one goal in every two appearances for club and country since the beginning of September. He didnât net in his last outing so the Europa League final hat-trick hero will hope to continue that trend here. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Just one of Shakhtarâs last eight UCL âhomeâ games produced a goalless first-half. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]