Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica Predictions

• Shakhtar Donetsk finished third in Group C in the Champions League having only won once.
• Benfica finished third in Champions League Group G, losing out on qualification by just one point.
• Shakhtar scored eight goals in six games but conceded 13 in the same period.
• Benfica scored 10 goals in their Champions League campaign but conceded 11.

Will Shakhtar make their home advantage count?

Shakhtar Donetsk will be looking to use the climate to their advantage when Benfica come to visit with the temperature expected to dip below freezing for this game. Shakhtar dropped into this competition following a disappointing Champions League campaign that saw them only won on one occasion, finishing eight points behind group winners, Manchester City.

Shakhtar scored on eight occasions, a record that holds it’s own against the sides finishing in similar positions but they conceded 13 goals, a figure that it just too big for a side that hoped to make the knockout stages of the premier European competition. They’ll need to improve rapidly before they welcome Benfica this week.

Can Benfica return from freezing Ukraine with anything?

Benfica come into this game following their own disappointing Champions League campaign that saw them struggle for form, only picking up seven points in a group that could have qualified from without too much trouble. Losses against Lyon and Zenit proved to be vital with Lyon snatching the second qualifying place by just one point.

Benfica certainly knew where the net was with the Portuguese side scoring 10 goals, the same amount as group winners Leipzig and more than the other two sides in the group, but they conceded 11 times, more than anyone else in the group and this is what has ultimately led to them finding a spot in the Europa League.

With both sides capable, which team finds the win?

These two sides seem very evenly matched with neither being the overwhelming favourite in the betting market. We think the conditions on a freezing cold night in Ukraine could play a big part and we’re backing the home side to profit from this, winning a tight game that will see under 2.5 goals.

Benfica are certainly capable of taking something from this game but we think the temperature and the long travel from Portugal to the Ukraine could put the visitors at a disadvantage. There should still be all to play for in the second leg though as we’re backing Shakhtar Donetsk to pick up a slender 1-0 win.