Celta Vigo vs Shakhtar Donetsk Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This is one of the toughest games to call on Thursday night as the Europa League returns for the New Year. Both sides are 8/5 to win the match outright but there may be better value in backing there to be goals.

Shakhtar Donetsk are favourites to progress over two legs and have perhaps a bit more quality in their ranks but having gone 2 months since their last competitive game, it’s hard to know exactly what shape they’ll be in here, which is another reason why the result market may be one to steer clear of. What is for sure is, they were carrying a real goal threat during the group phase of this competition and have plenty of dangerous attacking players.

They were the only side to progress with a 100% record, winning all six group games and firing in an outstanding 21 goals in the process to also go through as top scorers in the competition. It wasn’t a very strong group though and Celta can take heart from some of Shakhtar’s defending on the road. They conceded 3 goals in Gent and 2 in Braga. Both teams have scored in 4 of their last 5 competitive away games overall and those matches have seen a ridiculous 26 goals scored in total, with their most recent being a 4-3 league win at Dynamo Kiev.

Therefore, it seems like the better teams do cause them real problems at the back, although stopping Shakhtar’s attack won’t be easy for a Celta side that aren’t great defensively. Both teams scored in 4 of their 6 group games while Celta managed to net in all of them. In the end it was an away win in Greece that saw them through but 2 of their 3 home games ended in score draws.

They’ve already played 11 competitive games this calendar year so in terms of match sharpness they should have an advantage on their opponents and they did display an appetite for cup competitions by progressing to the Copa del Rey Semi-Finals, beating Real Madrid along the way. Whenever they host even relatively attack-minded teams, there are usually plenty of goals. They won 4-3 against Barcelona at Balaidos earlier this term and there have been over 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 9 home games in La Liga.

Shakhtar will take into this game the same mindset with which they approached the group phase and they’ll be hungry for away goals. Certainly both sides are stronger going forward than at the back and therefore taking a punt on Over 2.5 & Both Teams to Score at 13/10 looks to offer value.