UEFA Champions League: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Monaco Preview, Odds, Prediction

Shakhtar Donetsk has a minimal lead over Monaco before the second leg of their UEFA Champions League clash. Whoever wins this matchup, heads for the group stage of this competition, which is enough of a motive for either side. The Ukrainians were better in the first match, and to be honest, we don’t see why the bookmakers consider the guests from France favorites in this one. Monaco is in a tough situation, posting several bad results in a row and needing a miracle to come back victorious from Kharkiv, where Shakhtar plays its games.

Preview

Shakhtar (+185) won four straight matches, not allowing a goal in the past three. They’ve reached an excellent form in the best possible moment, which can’t be said about Monaco. The Miners came back victorious from Odessa this Saturday, 0-3, after a routine victory. additionally boosting the morale before this encounter.

Previously, Shakhtar beat Monaco in Monte Carlo and Metalist and Genk at home. Overall, since the beginning of the campaign, counting in all the competitive games, the Ukrainians suffered only one loss, adding seven wins besides that.

Roberto De Zerbi’s boys are very efficient and like to play open and offensive football. In all but two matches, they netted at least twice, with the same number of their games ending with over 2.5 goals.

Monaco (+130) won just once in the last five events. They would play 1-1 at home with Nantes and then beat Sparta Prague in the UCL qualifiers before losing three events in a row. To make it even worse, the Monégasques didn’t score a single goal during this interval.

One by one, Lorient, Shakhtar, and Lens defeated Niko Kovac’s crew. Monaco was showing mixed performances during the prep period, but overall, they were very good, having just one loss in five tests.

Back then, the French team was scoring goals, unlike now, and we don’t know the reason for that. Kovac needs to come up with something to change that; otherwise, the Champions League will stay just a dream.

Latest News

Pedrinho was out against Odessa, but he is expected to play on Tuesday. Maycon’s appearance is questionable.

In Monaco, Benjamin Lecomte is out, as he went to Atletico Madrid on loan. All the other players will be ready to face the Ukrainians.

Head to Head Games

Shakhtar and Monaco faced in the 1979 UEFA Cup when Monaco advanced to the next stage, winning 3-2 on aggregate. After that, they met once more, in 2015, when Shakhtar trashed the rivals, 3-0, in a friendly international.

The first leg of this matchup ended with 0-1, with Pedrinho scoring after 19 minutes. Even though Monaco had better statistics, they couldn’t hit the target, while on the other side, Shakhtar was very sharp, waiting for counter-attacks and threatening from transition.

Prediction

We should use the fact that the bookmakers are favoring Monaco here, and bet on Shakhtar. The profits on that are excellent, and we simply have to back up the hosts, who are in much better form. Monaco struggles a lot in the past few weeks, while on the other hand, Shakhtar is on the rise. After all, they defeated Monaco in France, why not doing the same at home.

Pick: Shakhtar wins +185

More matches are available here.

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