Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk on and what time does it start? Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk will take place on Wednesday 25th October, 2023 – 17:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk on in the UK? Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk in the UK? Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
BARCELONA
It hasn’t been plain sailing for Barcelona so far across the group stage, but six points from six is all that matters for them. After thrashing Antwerp 5-0, Xavi and his team were involved in an ill-tempered affair with Porto in Portugal which saw the Spanish champions reduced to ten-men late in the game. But that didn’t stop from them gaining the three points by virtue of a single goal from Ferran Torres.
Since then, Barcelona have been forced to come from two goals down to salvage a point away at Granada, before getting back to winning ways post international break, beating Athletic Club by a goal to nil. It was a fairy-tale occasion for 17-year-old striker Marc Guiu, who scored the winner on his senior Barca debut.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
Despite losing 1-3 to Porto in the opening round of Champions League fixtures, Shakhtar Donestsk parachuted themselves right back into contention for qualification from Group H into the knockout stage with a crucial 2-3 victory over Antwerp. This came, despite Shakhtar going two goals behind after just 34 minutes in Belgium.
The Ukrainian champions have since parted company with head coach Patrick van Leeuwen and his staff after just three months in position. Croatian Darijo Srna has been named as his interim replacement and after a 3-0 win vs LNZ at the weekend, now goes up against one of the true giants of European football who are slowly rising back up again.
THE TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
Barcelona will be without a number of key players for this game as injuries begin to pile up within their squad. Frenkie De Jong, Jules Koude, Raphinha and Sergi Roberto are all out. Star striker Robert Lewandowski is also missing after getting injured in Barcelona’s most recent group game. Midfielder Gavi was sent off in that one and is therefore suspended here.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen: Cancelo, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Fermin Lopez, Romeu, Gundogan; Yamal, Torres, Joao Felix
UNAVAILABLE: Gavi (Suspended), De Jong (Injured), Kounde (Injured), Lewandowski (Injured), Raphinha (Injured), Sergi Roberto (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Pedri (Fitness)
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
Centre-back Mykola Matviyenko faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the trip to Barcelona with an achilles injury potentially ruling him out. With that in mind, Valeriy Bondar and Yaroslav Rakitskyi could be set to team up in the centre of defence, the latter having found the net for Shakhtar in Antwerp.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Riznyk; Konoplia, Bondar, Rakitskiy, Azarov; Bondarenko, Stepanenko, Sudakov; Zubkov, Sikan, Newerton
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Matviyenko (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
A daunting task lies ahead for Shakhtar Donetsk, who are set for a long night without the ball as Barcelona look to impose their notoriously controlling style of play. Yet to be beaten in all competitions so far this season, Barca’s home record is utterly formidable, winning six games from six, keeping a clean sheet in five of those and scoring 17 goals themselves. Despite the players they have missing, the strength-in-depth that Barcelona boasts, combined with their ruthless efficiency and sheer class should see them overwhelm the Shakhtar backline over 90 minutes and ultimately triumph by at least two clear goals.
TIP: BARCELONA TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
