Shakhtar Donetsk vs Lyon Predictions

The final matchday in Group F brings a qualifying showdown, as Ligue 1 side Lyon head for Ukraine. They’re looking to secure a top-two finish with a result at Shakhtar Donetsk, with the pair just two points apart. The visitors have put themselves onto seven points after a good campaign, which hasn’t quite been enough to match Manchester City. Despite that, Lyon still have a chance to join the Premier League champions in the next round, as long as they can see off the job here.

For Shakhtar, the task is pretty simple. They need a win in this trip, or else they’re heading for the Europa League. It’s certainly been entertaining for the Ukrainian Premier League leaders so far, who have seen their fair share of goals. They needed a dramatic 3-2 win at Hoffenheim last time out to stay in the race for the last 16, and they’ll be hoping that spirit can take them to success over Lyon in Wednesday’s big finale.

The visitors are unbeaten to date, and if they can keep that up then second spot is theirs. The visitors know they’ve blown so many chances to make the next round, given their high number of draws. They conceded late goals in their last three games, with equalisers in added time (twice) and one in the 83rd minute costing them. Just one of those games could have pushed them through to the next round had they held on, but Lyon have come up short.

However, it was the Ligue 1 outfit who had the fightback when these two went head to head. In the meeting between Lyon and Shakhtar on MD2 this season, the French club came from 0-2 down to secure a draw, thanks to goals from Moussa Dembele and Léo Dubois that came just one minute and 59 seconds apart. That quick fightback kept their unbeaten record, and set them on the path to the last 16. To slip up now would be a real blow, but it wouldn’t be a surprise in which a high scoring group.

So far, Lyon’s least exciting game was a 2-1 win at Man City. Since then, they’ve had three 2-2 draws and a 3-3 away to Hoffenheim. The same goes for the hosts, who shipped nine goals in their two clashes with City. In two home games, Shakhtar have let in five goals. With Lyon in high scoring form (57% of their away Ligue 1 games have seen at least four goals) we’re going for another great game. We’re backing over 3.5 goals here and another 2-2.