The situation in UEFA Champions League Group F could become even more complicated as second-placed Manchester City visit third-placed Shakhtar Donetsk at OSC Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv on Tuesday. The two teams have met at the same stage of this competition last season and Shakhtar pulled off a memorable 2-1 home victory after having lost 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Shakhtar have not lost any of their seven home matches against English teams in European competitions and have won five of them. On the other hand, Manchester City have won just one of the three away matches they have played against Ukrainian teams.
Shakhtar Donetsk are unbeaten in their last eleven matches in all competitions, but they still haven't recorded any victories in this season's Champions League. They started with a 2-2 draw at home against Hoffenheim in September, fighting back from 2-1 down, and then managed to clinch a 2-2 draw in Lyon at the start of October, but that time they threw away a 2-0 lead. Shakhtar are unable to play their home matches in Donetsk due to the uncertain political situation in the region, they are playing in Kharkiv instead. Taison is the only injury concern for the home side ahead of this match.
Manchester City are on a six-match unbeaten streak and have lost just one match all season, but that match was in the Champions League. In fact, their first match in the competition was the disappointing 2-1 defeat at home against Lyon, a surprising result considering the Citizens' dominant form. Then, at the start of October, Pep Guardiola's men recovered with a 2-1 victory at Hoffenheim, now they need another three points to steady the ship in Group F. Danilo, Ilkay Gundogan and Claudio Bravo remain sidelined for Manchester City, but Kevin De Bruyne is available again.
Probable line-ups:
Shakhtar: Pyatov - Butko, Khotcholava, Rakitskiy, Ismaily - Maycon, Stepanenko - Marlos, Patrick, Bolbat - Moraes
Man City: Ederson - Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy - B. Silva, Fernandinho, D. Silva - Sterling, Jesus, Sane
My prediction: Manchester City to win 3-1, it won't be an easy match for the Citizens but they can't afford any slip-ups now.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Shakhtar win - 7.50
Draw - 5.75
Man City win - 1.40
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