Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sevilla Betting Tips & Predictions

Sevilla come into this game in slightly patchy form. Prior to their 2-0 derby win against Real Betis on Sunday, they’d only won 1 of their previous 7 matches. Crucially that was a 2-1 win in Bilbao in the 1st Leg of their UEFA League Quarter-Final with Athletic and even though they lost 2-1 at home in the return, they progressed on penalties and are still on course for what would be an incredible 3rd successive Europa League triumph. Their away from has been awful this season though and they are yet to win on the road in the league and hadn’t won any of their European away games either until that win at San Mames.

Shakhtar continue to play every game away from Donetsk due to the troubles in Eastern Ukraine and they have been beaten 4 times at home in their adopted home in L’viv this season and struggled in a tough Champions League group which included PSG and Real Madrid. However they have looked very assured in this competition comfortably seeing off Schalke, Anderlecht and Sporting Braga to reach this stage, winning 5 of the 6 legs and drawing the other. They’ve only lost 1 of their last 14 home games in this competition but have only managed draws in their last two domestic matches to fall further behind Dynamo Kiev in the title race.

This game has the potential for goals. Sevilla will be hungry for an away goal and both teams have scored in 6 of their last 7 matches in all competitions. Shakhtar will see this as their best chance of winning the tie so will be positive and look to take a healthy advantage to the 2nd leg given the disparity between Sevilla’s home and away from. The Spaniards have conceded in 21 of their 28 away matches this season and it’s hard to see them shutting a lively Shakhtar attack out for 90 minutes so consider backing both teams to score at 8/11.