Having been drawn alongside Manchester City in the Champions League (CL) group stage for the third year in a row, Shakhtar Donetsk must try to improve on last season’s results, when they were trounced 0-9 on aggregate across the two H2Hs. A positive result here might be significant in the expected scrap over second place in the group.
Confidence, at least, should be high, as Shakhtar enter the match on the back of seven straight league wins, where they’ve scored 3.29 goals on average. Indeed, the ‘Miners’ have offered plenty of CL entertainment, with ten of their last 12 group stage matches featuring at least three goals, and both teams scoring in eight of 12.
Manchester City, meanwhile, travels after suffering their first domestic loss of the season, and they’ve conceded at least one goal in four of their six competitive matches so far. However, their historical grip on their hosts has been formidable: three wins and one loss have totaled 12 goals in favor of City for just two conceded.
The city has qualified from the group stage in six straight seasons, and the past two years have seen them collect a whopping 28 of 36 possible points (W9, D1, L2) while scoring 2.5 goals on average per match.
Players to watch: Júnior Moraes is in stellar form and has scored seven goals in Shakhtar’s last six matches! Three of those arrived within the first 30 minutes.
Veteran David Silva scored City’s opening goal in both matches against Shakhtar last season.
Stat attack: The hosts have conceded at least one goal in nine straight European home matches.
Pep Guardiola has faced Shakhtar 11 times in his managerial career (W8, D1, L2).
Four of the last five encounters in that group have been won by at least a two-goal margin.
Will not play
Khocholava D.
(Injury)
Laporte A.
(Knee Injury)
Pikhalyonok O.
(Injury)
Sane L.
(Knee Injury)
Stones J.
(Thigh Injury)
Questionable
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