Shahktar Donetsk meet Celtic at Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw, Poland in Group F of 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would see Shakhtar Donetsk stay top of Group F, whilst Celtic can move off the foot of the table with a win.
Team News
Shakhtar Donetsk have no fresh injury concerns as Viktor Kornienko remains ruuled out with a serious knee injury.
Celtic have no fresh injury concerns to report after their domestic home clash against Livingston was postponed out of respect, following death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Carl Starfelt (knee) and Yosuke Ideguchi (leg) are both ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Shakhtar Donetsk have won two of four previous meetings against Celtic in all UEFA competitions (W2, L2).
- Celtic have lost their two previous away clashes against Shakhtar Donetsk without scoring (L2), having lost 3-0 in October 2004 and 2-0 in September 2007.
- Shakhtar Donetsk haven’t advanced from two previous occasions when they faced Celtic in the Group Stage.
- Marian Shved has scored three goals in Shakhtar Donetsk’s last two matches in all competitions.
- Jota scored in two of Celtic’s last three away matches in all UEFA competitions.
Prediction
Shakhtar Donetsk come into this match unbeaten this season making this a tough encounter for Celtic, especially given how the Ukranian club showed how ruthless they can be in their pressing and turnovers n a clinical win at RB Leipzig last week.
Celtic meanwhile will feel hard-done-by following their defeat against Real Madrid last week because they played excellently with an aggressive front-footed attacking style, yet weren’t clinical enough but have now had a week off so I expect them to be fully fresh and prepared for this challenge.
Fans should therefore expect an exciting game because if Celtic play like they did last week but with better physicality management across 90 minutes, their tactics could play into Shakhtar’s hands if they are clinical in their press and turnovers.
A draw on that note would be a fair result for both teams.
Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Celtic
Result: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Celtic