Antwerp vs Shakhtar Donetsk predictions ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League group stage clash. An early duel at the bottom of Champions League Group H is set for Wednesday at Bosuilstadion, where Royal Antwerp will clash with Shakhtar Donetsk in the second matchweek. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Match Live Wednesday, 4th October at 5:45 pm In:
Antwerp vs Shakhtar Donetsk Predictions
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An Early Tussle in Group H
Key Stats
– Shakhtar have scored in each of their last 37 competitive matches.
– This match represents the first competitive meeting between Antwerp and Shakhtar.
The Bosuilstadion will be the stage for an intriguing face-off in the Champions League Group H on Wednesday. The Royal Antwerp side will be locking horns with the Ukrainian titans, Shakhtar Donetsk. For Antwerp, their introduction to the Champions League group stage was nothing less than an ordeal. The venue change to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, due to renovations at Camp Nou, didn’t do them any favours. Mark van Bommel’s men were pummelled by a 5-0 scoreline against Barcelona. This stunning defeat saw Joao Felix and Robert Lewandowski shine, along with an unfortunate own goal from Jelle Bataille. Yet, the Belgians have shown resilience in the Jupiler Pro League, stringing together a series of draws. The challenge? Find their goal-scoring touch before their European dream fades.
Shakhtar’s Search for Stability
Shakhtar Donetsk’s journey isn’t painted with rosy colours either. An opening defeat against Porto (3-1) set the tone for them. Their confrontation took place at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion due to ongoing unrest in Eastern Europe.
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A spirited response to Porto’s initial goal was thwarted by defensive blunders, allowing Porto to run away with the game. Although Shakhtar’s scoring streak is commendable, their inability to keep clean sheets, especially in European games away from home, is concerning.
First Encounter: A Fresh European Tale
This upcoming match will be the first competitive clash between these two teams. While Antwerp’s continental experience is relatively novice, Shakhtar boast a favourable record against Belgian teams, with only two losses out of 14 encounters.
Team News: Injuries and Formations
Antwerp, despite their humbling by Barcelona, have no fresh injuries to report. However, their defence is plagued with injuries to Samuel Vines, Bjorn Engels, Ritchie De Laet, and Kobe Corbaine. Additionally, their Swedish forward Jacob Ondrejka is also sidelined. On the other hand, Shakhtar’s worries are centred around their defender, Stav Lemkin, who missed the previous game. But, the return of Mykola Matvienko provides some solace.
As for lineups, Royal Antwerp’s likely formation could include a setup of Butez, Bataille, Alderweireld, Coulibaly, Wijndal, Vermeeren, Keita, Kerk, Ekkelenkamp, Muja, and Janssen. Shakhtar may field Riznyk, Konoplya, Rakitskyi, Matvienko, Azarovi, Sudakov, Stepanenko, Bondarenko, Zubkov, Kelsey, and Sikan.
Predictions
1. Match Outcome: Draw Considering the current forms of both teams, a draw seems a likely outcome. Antwerp’s defensive stability, especially at home, combined with Shakhtar’s consistent goal-scoring form, suggests a competitive match that might not tilt decisively in either direction.
2. Correct Score Prediction: 1-1 Given Shakhtar’s scoring spree and Antwerp’s recent defensive solidity, a 1-1 draw seems like a probable scoreline.
3. Goalscorer Prediction: Vincent Janssen Vincent Janssen, with five goals in the Pro League this season, stands out as a potential goalscorer for Royal Antwerp. His form will be crucial for Antwerp’s chances.
4. Corner Prediction: Royal Antwerp to have more corners Royal Antwerp’s corner stats average at 6.8 per game, suggesting they’ll edge out Shakhtar in this department. The total number of corners for the match could be around 12.
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