Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp Betting Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp on and what time does it start? Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp will take place on Tuesday 28th November, 2023 – 17:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp on in the UK? Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp in the UK? Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
Shakhtar Donetsk are riding the crest of a wave following one of the most famous victories in their club’s history last time out in the Champions League. A wonderful all-round performance saw them shock giants Barcelona, winning by a goal to nil in Hamburg and keeping their knockout qualification hopes firmly alive.
The only other win achieved by Shakhtar so far across the group stage was their 2-3 triumph over Antwerp in Belgium, a thrilling affair which saw the Ukrainian side come from two goals down at half-time to ultimately come out on top. Another victory here would see them in with a fighting chance of a top two finish in Group H heading into the final round of fixtures.
ANTWERP
Antwerp defensive fragilities were exposed once again away to Porto. After conceding a penalty which saw them go behind, the Belgian outfit couldn’t get back into the game and eventually fell to a 2-0 defeat, their fourth group stage loss in a row which still leaves them without a point and now unable to qualify for the next round.
They’ve now conceded 14 goals over the course of their four fixtures played so far, more than any other side in the competition this season. The loss in Portugal was actually an improvement from Antwerp’s perspective as it was the first time they have shipped less than three goals in a Group H fixture.
THE TEAM NEWS
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
After being forced off against Polissya Zhytomyr with a muscle injury, Shakhtar are expected to be without first-choice right-back Yukhym Konoplya, who didn’t feature in his side’s memorable triumph over Barcelona, but had started each of Shakhtar’s three group games prior to that. Therefore, Giorgi Gocholeishvili should step in once again.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Riznyk; Gocholeishvili, Bondar, Matviyenko, Azarov; Stepanenko; Zubkov, Kryskiv, Sudakov, Newerton; Sikan
UNAVAILABLE: Konoplya (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ANTWERP
Antwerp have a number of players unavailable for this match. Centre-back Bjorn Engels, midfielders Mandela Keita and Anthony Valencia along with winger Jacob Ondrejka are all missing. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp is suspended after his red card away at Porto.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Butez; De Laet, Alderweireld, Coulibaly, Bataille; Vermeeren, Yusuf; Muja, Ilenikhena, Balikwisha; Janssen
UNAVAILABLE: Ekkelenkamp (Suspended), Engels (Injured), Keita (Injured), Ondrejka (Injured), Valencia (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE KEY STATS
- Shakhtar Donetsk are unbeaten in their last 14 UEFA club competition matches against Belgian teams (W9 D5) and have won each of the last seven.
- Shakhtar Donetsk are aiming to win successive UEFA Champions League group stage matches for the first time since the 2017/18 season when they won back-to-back matches against Feyenoord.
- Shakhtar Donetsk have only failed to score in one of their last 15 UEFA club competition matches.
- Antwerp have won only one of their last 11 UEFA club competition group stage matches (D2 L8).
THE PREDICTION
Shakhtar Donetsk are expected to come out of the blocks very quickly here in Hamburg and look to take advantage of facing an Antwerp backline likely to be short of confidence. They scored three goals in the reverse fixture between the two sides and it would be no surprise if Shakhtar were afforded similarly joy in front of goal on this occasion. Antwerp have struggled with the high calibre of opposition they have faced across the group stage and this may well wind up being another difficult night for them, so back Shakhtar to triumph by at least two clear goals.
