Shakhtar Donetsk VS Napoli Match Prediction
- 2017-09-13
- 18:45:00
Napoli will win this match.
The two teams have never previously met in European competition. In fact, Shakhtar have never played any of the three teams in Group F.
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While both teams are in good form so far this season, Napoli have the bigger European pedigree and know a win could prove vital in their quest to reach the first knockout round.
Dries Mertens up front has proved himself to be a lethal finisher, and support from the likes of Marek Hamsik and Lorenzo Insigne will be key.
Shakhtar's run of six straight wins and eight in nine in all is impressive, but their one defeat came at home to title rivals Dynamo Kyiv, and Napoli will consider themselves on a higher level again.
Shakhtar must be respected, especially with goals throughout the team, but free-scoring Napoli are more than capable of getting a positive result away from home.
Napoli are favourites with the bookmakers, with Bet365 and Betfair offering 23/20 on an away win, and 3/1 on Napoli to win and BTTS.
Both teams to score, on its own, is 4/6 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes, and with both teams in good form in front of goal that is a fair price.
Dries Mertens is Napoli's star man up front, and he is 13/10 to score at anytime with Ladbrokes.
Shakhtar have home advantage, but Napoli are more than able to live up to their tag as favourites to win on Wednesday.
Marlos missed the win against Zorya on Saturday, but could return in place of Dentinho, with Maksym Malyshev Shakhtar's only's injury concern. Taras Stepanenko is also pushing for a recall, after dropping to the bench last time out.
Striker Facundo Ferreyra tops Shakhtar's goalscoring charts this season with five from nine so far, with a further two assists. Darijo Srna has set up four from right-back, meanwhile.
Shakhtar have won their last six matches and eight of their nine in total this season. Last time out, on Saturday, they won 3-1 at home to Zorya.
Goalkeeper:Pyatov
Defenders:Srna, Krivstov, Ordets, Ismaily
Midfielders:Fred, Stepanenko
Attacking Midfielders:Marlos, Kovalenko, Bernard
Forwards:Ferreyra
Napoli are unlikely to make any changes to the side which won on Sunday, as they look to continue their unblemished start to the season.
Dries Mertens scored 34 goals in 45 games in all competitions last season, and bagged his third in five games this season in Sunday's win at Bologna.
Napoli beat Nice 2-0 both home and away to qualify for the Champions League group stages, either side of their 3-1 win at Hellas Verona on the opening day of the new Serie A season. Since then, they have beaten Atalanta 3-1 at home and, on Sunday, won 3-0 at Bologna.
Goalkeeper:Reina
Defenders:Hysaj, Chiriches, Koulibaly, Ghoulam
Midfielders:Jorginho, Allan, Hamsik
Forwards:Callejon, Mertens, Insigne