RB Leipzig vs Shakhtar Donetsk Predictions

• Leipzig scored 3.33 goals per match on average across their last three games.
• Shakhtar lost four of their last five UCL games in Germany by 3+ goal margins.
• Shakhtar failed to win 20 of their last 24 Champions League group games.

Red Bulls can make a charging start

While they were humbled 4-0 by Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt last time out, Leipzig enter this clash having scored ten goals across the last three games and now with a point to prove.

Starting strong is a priority in this group as aside from reigning European champions Real Madrid, the rest of the group looks much more well matched. This is now Leipzig’s fourth consecutive Champions League group stage, and with Shakhtar being humbled in four of their last five trips to Germany, the Red Bulls could perhaps take advantage.

As for the visitors, Shakhtar Donetsk begin the first of six straight away games in this group stage as their home stadium cannot be used as ruled by FIFA. Their home games will take place in Warsaw, Poland, so playing away may not faze the Ukrainians too much.

Fixture chaos could cost Shakhtar

The visitors have made an unbeaten start to their domestic campaign, yet playing against football-starved Ukrainian Premier League sides is hardly comparable to a Champions League away encounter.

We predict that Leipzig should have enough in the locker to bounce back in style against Shakhtar and win by a -1 handicap busting scoreline. As such, we’re also going for a smaller stake selection on a 3-0 home win.