Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 23/10/2023, 10:45  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 25/10/2023 at 10:19 in Champions League Prediction

Barcelona will be at home on Wednesday for their next Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Spanish heavyweights have won their two fixtures in Group H and sit top, three points above Shaktar in third. Barcelona have been in excellent form this season and are yet to lose a match. They have won nine of their 12 matches across all competitions with the latest coming over the weekend. Xavi Hernandez's men were 1-0 winners against Athletic Bilbao at home on Sunday. Their third win in four outings was also the third to end with a solitary goal. The Catalans have struggled to score goals in recent weeks and it has been down to the injuries they are currently facing. The Blaugrana have had to do without Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong and the quartet could miss out here again.

Shakhtar Donetsk have won only once in the last five meetings with Barcelona. That rare win came in an away fixture and they will hope the stars align this time as they did 15 years ago. Current interim manager Darijo Srna played the entire match in that 3-2 victory at the Camp Nou. The Croat was appointed earlier this month and is Shaktar's third manager this season. The Ukrainian champions have struggled with inconsistency which has necessitated the coaching changes. Shaktar lost 3-1 at home to Porto on matchday one goal regrouped to defeat debutants Antwerp 3-2. The Miners have now won their last two matches and have scored three goals in both. They were 3-1 winners against LZN Cherkasy in the league on Saturday.