Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk vs AS Monaco

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 11/2

Bookmaker: Betfair

Shakhtar Donetsk and AS Monaco will face each other in the Champions League Qualifying Playoff Second-Leg tie this week. The match will be held at OSC Metalist in Kharkiv on Wednesday and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk will head into the second-leg tie against Monaco as favourites. That’s because the Ukrainian giants won the first leg last week 1-0. Pedrinho scored the only goal of the match after 19 minutes. 

Roberto De Zerbi’s side will know that the job is far from done, and that an early goal from Monaco could change things very quickly. However, Shakhtar will be confident of getting the job done in the second leg.

Team News:

Pedrinho has been suffering with a recent muscle injury and may not start the second leg. Dodo, Vitao and Marcos Antonio are likely to start.

AS Monaco

AS Monaco will be hugely disappointed by the outcome in the first leg. The Ligue 1 outfit will be fully aware that conceding an away goal at home was not the ideal way to start the two-legged affair.

Niko Kovac’s side will be keen on scoring an early goal in the second leg and taking the game to their hosts. Monaco will head into the match against Shakhtar on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Lens at home in Ligue 1.

Team News:

Aleksandr Golovin is likely to start for Monaco.

Key Factors to Consider

• Shakhtar Donetsk have won their last three Champions League games.
• Shakhtar Donetsk have won their last four competitive matches.
• AS Monaco have won two of their last three Champions League games.
• AS Monaco have lost their last three competitive games.
• AS Monaco have won just two of their six competitive games.

Conclusion

The second leg will be very tight and will be intensively contested. The first goal will be key, but it is hard to see Shakhtar lose. A draw is the most likely outcome.

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 11/2

Bookmaker: Betfair