Shakhtar Donetsk vs Eintracht Frankfurt Predictions

Shakhtar were unfortunate not to progress in the Champions League; they were in the position to qualify on the final match-day but were unable to cling on against a useful Lyon outfit. Now in the Europa League, Ukraine’s premier club will be looking to head back in the right direction, though beating a side of Frankfurt’s calibre will be anything but straightforward.

Having been knocked out of the Champions League, Thursday’s hosts come into this match with no UEL form to their name this time around, though if we look at their rather displeasing UCL efforts, then it’s easy to feel that they could struggle against a Frankfurt side that is one of the best that this competition has to offer.

On points accrued, Shakhtar weren’t far away from booking their place in the Champions League knockout stages, though if we dig a little deeper and run the rule over their performances, it’s easy to see that they were a long way off. Even at home, the Ukrainians struggled to come up with the goods. They may have drawn against both Hoffenheim and Lyon, but they were outplayed on both occasions, as they conceded more than they created in terms of shots, shots on target and expected goals. The fact that Thursday’s hosts emerged from the UCL group stages with an average of just 0.34 expected goals for at home is worrying, as is the fact that they shipped an average of 1.6 at the other end.

However, while Shahktar weren’t great at home, Frankfurt didn’t exactly play their best football on their travels during the group stages of this competition, so there’s certainly hope for the hosts.

On the face of it, Frankfurt were excellent away from home in Group H; they won each of their travelling matches, but results don’t tell the full story. Offensively, as they scored in each of their three away games, scoring a total of seven goals, Frankfurt offered plenty, but they were anything but secure at the back. Adi Hütter’s men conceded at least once in each of their three away matches during the groups, while they surrendered an average of 1.31 expected goals and were outperformed in terms of expected goals in two out of three on the road in Group H. Such stats tell us that the Germans are far from infallible.

Shahktar didn’t always look creative in the Champions League, but they did score at home against both Hoffenheim and Lyon, so they ought to fancy scoring against a Frankfurt back-line that has been relatively easy to pass in this competition.

From a betting point of view, the angle of attack is ‘Over 2.5 Goals’, which has yielded a profit in five of Shahktar and Frankfurt’s combined six respective home and away games in Europe this season.

Neither side has looked strong at the back on the continent this term, so both will surely be targeting this as a game to attack. Moreover, with Shahktar conceding an average of 1.6 expected goals at home and Frankfurt shipping an average of 1.31 on the road, it’s easy to feel that there’s a touch of value to be had by backing goals at the current odds.