Shakhtar Donetsk vs Real Madrid Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Real Madrid will take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, hoping to continue their impressive start to the campaign.

Real Madrid come into the game against Shakhtar Donetsk on the back of a narrow win over Getafe in La Liga. And they will be full of confidence and momentum right now.

On the other hand, the home side had their weekend game postponed, and the players will be well-rested and raring to go for this one.

Their last outing was the game against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu and the Spanish giants picked up a 2-1 win. The Ukrainian outfit will fancy their chances of getting something from Tuesday’s game, especially in front of their own fans.

Real Madrid are currently on top of Group F with nine points from three outings. And a victory here would confirm their place in the knockout rounds of the competition. Shakhtar are second in their group with four points from three outings. RB Leipzig are breathing down their necks in third place, and the hosts cannot afford to slip up.

Team News and Tactics

Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk will be without the services of Viktor Korniyenko. Other than that, Igor Jovicevic has a fully-fit squad to choose from against Real Madrid.

The Ukrainian outfit are likely to continue in the usual 4-1-4-1 setup, and they will look to attack Real Madrid. Shakhtar do not prefer to set back and absorb pressure, and this could be an open contest with a fair few chances for either side.

Anatoliy Trubin is set to start in goal. Lucas Taylor and Yukhym Konoplya should continue as the full-backs. They will be expected to contain the likes of Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde and provide some much-needed width going forward. Valeriy Bondar and Mykola Matviyenko are likely to partner each other at the heart of the Shakhtar defence.

Taras Stepanenko will be deployed in his usual position as the defensive midfielder. The experienced Ukrainian will be expected to break up the play and win the ball back for his side while setting up transitions on the counter.

Shakhtar will look to use their wide options to cause problems for Real Madrid, and they are blessed with two exciting wingers in Marian Shved and Mykhaylo Mudryk. Both players have been impressive this season, and their performances have caught a lot of attention in the Champions League.

Artem Bondarenko and Heorhii Sudakov will be the central midfielders for the home side, and they will look to support Stepanenko defensively and create chances for the attacking players as well. Oleksandr Zubkov will lead the line for the hosts.

Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Trubin; Taylor, Bondar, Matviyenko, Konoplya; Stepanenko; Shved, Bondarenko, Sudakov; Mudryk; Zubkov

Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti was without Thibaut Courtois and Dani Ceballos against Getafe, and both players miss out here as well. Ancelotti confirmed earlier this week that Ceballos will be out for two to three weeks, and Courtois will likely return for El Clasico.

Real Madrid should continue with their usual 4-3-3 formation here. Andriy Lunin was deployed as the goalkeeper in the absence of Courtois against Getafe, and he will continue between the sticks here.

Dani Carvajal will retain his place as the right-back and Ferland Mendy is expected to come in as the left-back after earning some rest in the previous game. Eder Militao produced an exceptional display against Getafe and will likely start here alongside Antonio Rudiger.

In the central midfield, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos should start alongside Aurelien Tchouameni. The Frenchman will look to break up play and win the ball back, while Modric and Kroos will dictate the tempo of the game and create chances for their teammates.

Rodrygo had an underwhelming outing against Getafe, and Karim Benzema is expected to return for this one. The French striker earned some rest at the weekend. Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde should feature as the wide forwards.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius

Key Stats

• Real Madrid have won their last five matches in the UEFA Champions League.
• Real Madrid have won their last three matches against Shakhtar Donetsk in all competitions.
• Real Madrid have scored at least two goals in six of their last seven matches against Shakhtar Donetsk in all competitions.
• Real Madrid have scored at least two goals in five of their last six UEFA Champions League matches.
• Shakhtar Donetsk have failed to win nine of their last 1ten matches in the UEFA Champions League.

Player to Watch

Karim Benzema

The French striker will be our player to watch this week. Benzema earned a rest at the weekend and will be fresh for the midweek game in the UEFA Champions League.

He is one of the best players in the world and has the quality to trouble any defence on his day. Shakhtar Donetsk will likely play attacking football in front of their own fans. And that should give the Real Madrid talisman enough space and opportunities to cause problems in the final third.

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Prediction

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Real Madrid

Shakhtar Donetsk did quite well at the Santiago Bernabeu, and they will likely put up a fight here as well. Real Madrid picked up a 2-1 win at home and have the quality to edge Tuesday’s contest as well. The home side are no pushovers and will look to make life difficult for the visitors. But the Spanish giants have the quality to come out on top eventually.