MX23RW : Saturday, December 7 19:53:46| >> :600:819229:819229:
[monks data]
Shakhtar Donetsk
Champions League | League Stage
Nov 6, 2024 at 5.45pm UK
VELTINS-Arena
Young Boys

Shakhtar
2 - 1
Young Boys

Zubkov (31'), Sudakov (41')
Konoplya (81')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Imeri (27')
Blum (40'), Athekame (45+3'), Niasse (70')

Preview: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Young Boys - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League clash between Shakhtar Donetsk and Young Boys, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two underperforming teams, both domestically and on the continent, meet in one of the Champions League's early kick offs on Wednesday, when Shakhtar Donetsk face Young Boys in Gelsenkirchen.

Neither side have won or even scored a goal in this competition so far after three matches, with both facing an uphill struggle to make it into the top 24.


Match preview

Georgiy Sudakov of Shakhtar Donetesk on October 2, 2024© Imago

After early-season defeats to Polissa Zhytomyr and Oleksandriya, Shakhtar have been playing catch up domestically, and even though they responded well, they are still some way off the top.

Despite recording a 2-1 win over Chornomorets Odesa at the weekend, a week after drawing away to Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar remain six points adrift of the two leaders, and they also a long way behind on the continent.

Shakhtar's start has been relatively difficult, but taking just one point from their opening three suggests they will find it very tough to advance.

The Ukrainian side were very fortunate to take a point from Bologna on matchday one, and they have since fallen to defeat against Atalanta and Arsenal, conceding four goals without reply.

Predictions and models have suggested around nine or 10 points will be enough to finish in the top 24, but based on performances and results so far, it is tough to see where Shakhtar will pick up the points required, with trips to PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund to come, as well as a clash with Bayern Munich.

With just two shots on target across their opening three games, no team has had fewer at this stage of the competition in almost a decade, meaning it is no surprise Marino Pusic's side are yet to open their account.

This fixture undoubtedly presents Shakhtar with their best chance to pick up a win, like they did in qualifying against Young Boys back in 2016, recording a 2-0 first-leg victory, before throwing it away in Bern and losing on penalties.

Young Boys of Switzerland in August 2024© Imago

If Shakhtar's start has been disappointing, though, then Young Boys' has been catastrophic, with fortunes not improving greatly since the sacking of Patrick Rahmen just nine games into the league season last month.

Joel Magnin has taken caretaker charge, and has led them to wins over Luzern and Basel, but they still appear a level below the top two, losing in Lugano and drawing 0-0 with Zurich.

The Swiss side's finest performance of the season probably came on matchday three of this competition, when they almost held Italian champions Inter Milan to a 0-0 draw, only for Marcus Thuram to net a 93rd-minute winner at the Wankdorf Stadium.

That means that Red Bull Salzburg are the only other team alongside Young Boys to have lost their opening three games without scoring, and the Swiss champions are only off the bottom of the 36-team standings narrowly on goal difference - minus-nine to Slovan Bratislava's minus-10.

Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League form:


Shakhtar Donetsk form (all competitions):


Young Boys Champions League form:


Young Boys form (all competitions):



Team News

Shakhtar Dontesk coach Marino Pusic on September 18, 2024© Imago

The only injury concern for Shakhtar remains that of Tymur Puzankov, who continues to recover from an ACL tear, with Dmytro Kryskiv set to return after missing the last two domestic matches through suspension.

Pusic could go slightly more attacking compared to their trip to Emirates on matchday three, and that could provide an opportunity for more of their young Brazilians to get some Champions League experience.

Marlon Gomes has started their last two matches, and he could be joined in the starting XI by the likes of Pedrinho and Newerton, who have also been handed minutes since the Arsenal defeat.

Visitors Young Boys will be without a number of defenders for this one due to injury, with Mats Seiler, Mohamed Camara, Banhie Zoukrou, Patric Pfeiffer and Saidy Janko all currently absent.

Given the precarious position they are in domestically, and facing tough opponents in Zurich at the weekend, Magnin could not rotate with one eye on this game, as Young Boys were at full strength on Saturday.

Joel Monteiro was sent off in the latter stages of that 0-0 draw, but will be available here before serving his suspension at the weekend against Lugano.

Shakhtar Donetsk possible starting lineup:
Riznyk; Konoplya, Graham, Matviienko, Pedrinho; Marlon Gomes, Kryskiv, Sudakov; Eguinaldo, Sikan, Newerton

Young Boys possible starting lineup:
Van Ballmoos; Blum, Lauper, Benito, Hadjam; Lakomy, Ugrinic, Imeri; Virginius, Ganvoula, Monteiro


SM words green background

We say: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Young Boys

While both sides will see this as an opportunity to get off the mark in front of goal, the search could go on for an elusive win for two sides who have been well off it in Europe so far.

The war means Shakhtar are still without the benefit of home advantage, while Young Boys have fallen off a cliff this season, and wins have still been hard to come by since the change of manager.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




ID:557329:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13451:
Written by
Andrew Delaney

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Shakhtar vs Young Boys

Shakhtar Donetsk
63.6%
Draw
23.6%
Young Boys
12.7%
220
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior on October 22, 2024
Read Next:
Hat-trick heroes and a potential teenage star: Champions League Team of the Week
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool550015
2Inter Milan541013
3Barcelona540112
4Dortmund540112
5Atalanta532011
6Arsenal531110
7Sporting Lisbon531110
8B. Leverkusen531110
9Brest531110
10Aston Villa531110
11Monaco531110
12Lille531110
13Bayern53029
14Benfica53029
15AC Milan53029
16Atletico53029
17Juventus52218
18Man City52218
19PSV52218
20Celtic52218
21Brugge52127
22Feyenoord52127
23Dinamo Zagreb52127
24Real Madrid52036
25Stuttgart51134
26Sparta Prague51134
27PSG51134
28Shakhtar51134
29Sturm Graz51043
30Girona51043
31Red Star51043
32Salzburg51043
33Bologna50141
34RB Leipzig50050
35Slovan Bratislava50050
36Young Boys50050


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!