Shakhtar Donetsk vs Porto Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 17/09/2023, 14:06  by Sridhar Bhamidi | Modified on 17/09/2023 at 14:08 in Champions League Predictions

Group H action in the UEFA Champions League kicks off with Shakhtar Donetsk hosting Porto. This match will be played at the neutral stadium of Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on Tuesday. With Barcelona the favourite, and Royal Antwerp completing the group, this match could prove vital to both these teams in progressing to knockouts. Shakhtar are regulars in the Champions League but their last five campaigns have all ended at the group stage. They are making a seventh successive appearance in the Champions League group stages and an 18th overall. Thankfully, they come into this match with four wins and a draw from their last five league matches. That doesn’t cover up for their poor returns in this competition, having lost two and drawn three of their last five in the Champions League. Even if we consider this to be their home turf, Shakhtar haven’t won across seven such matches in this competition.

Porto are slightly better than their hosts, as they have reached the round of 16 at least, in five of their last six appearances in this competition. They are also coming on the back of a five-game unbeaten run in the Portuguese league, winning four and drawing one. That should give them a good chance to continue what has been an impressive record in the Champions League group stages. They have won their last four matches in the Champions League group stages, when they came back from losing the first two matches last season. That record is slightly disturbing for the visitors as Porto haven’t won any of their last seven Champions League group opener – drawing four and losing three.