Shakhtar Donetsk VS Lyon Match Prediction
2018-12-12
20:00:00
Shakhtar Donetsk
VS
Lyon
Our Prediction Tip
Shakhtar Donetsk will win this match.
2018-12-1220:00:00 Shakhtar Donetsk will win this match.
Junior Moraes put Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 up in Lyon when these two teams last met in October – their only previous European meeting – but Moussa Dembele and Leo Dubois scored in the second-half to earn a 2-2 draw.
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Shakhtar Donetsk’s last-minute winner against Hoffenheim keeps them in with a chance of qualifying for the last 16, despite it being their only win so far.
Lyon have also won just once, drawing their next four in the Champions League, and go into this game without a win in three in all competitions.
An away game against Shakhtar Donetsk is not an ideal place to head in December, either, and Lyon – despite a win and four draws so far – could end up missing out on a last-16 place.
Lyon had to come from 2-0 down in their home game against Shakhtar, with Junior Moraes having scored twice, and a slow start again could prove costly.
Against Manchester City they were better but could not hold a lead and that defensive fragility has been on show again in subsequent league games.
If Taison and Junior Moraes can exploit that, Shakhtar – who had just two points after four matches – could end up in the last 16, with Lyon missing out.
With home advantage, Shakhtar Donetsk are 11/8 favourites with Betway to get the win they need to leapfrog Lyon and qualify for the Champions League last 16.
Neither side is short of goals, however, and both teams to score has been set at 40/85 with Betfair. Shakhtar to win and BTTS is 13/5 with Bet365, Ladbrokes, Betway and 888sport.
Over 2.5 goals will return a best price of 4/7 with Betfair, meanwhile.
Junior Moraes scored twice in the reverse fixture and he is 5/4 to score at any time with Betway, while Taison – the match winner last time out – is 3/1 with Betway.
Shakhtar Donetsk have home advantage for this must-win game and go into it in better form than Lyon – they could pull off an unlikely charge into the last 16 as a result.
Marlos' goalscoring return to the side last time out has eased some of Shakhtar’s injury worries, while Ivan Ordets, Maksym Malyshev and Viacheslav Tankovskyi could also be off the treatment table soon. Yaroslav Rakytskyi, Dentinho and Fernando miss out though.
Junior Moraes – Scored both Shakhtar goals in the reverse fixture as well as scoring twice against Olimpik Donetsk earlier this month.
Marlos – Back from injury and wasted little time to get back in the goals after scoring against Mariupol’.
Taison – His two goals against Hoffenheim included the last-minute winner that keeps Shakhtar in with a chance of a place in the last 16.
Since the 6-0 thrashing away to Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk have won three and drawn two of their subsequent five games. It took a last-minute winner to see off Hoffenheim in their most recent Champions League game – Ismaily and Taison’s early goals were initially cancelled out before Taison’s last-minute strike sealed victory. Junior Moraes then scored first and last in a 2-2 draw with Olimpik Donetsk, while his goal was sandwiched by efforts from Taras Stepanenko and Marlos in a 3-0 defeat of Mariupol’ last time out.
Kenny Tete replaced Rafael for the last two league games, while Maxwel Cornet also missed the defeat to Rennes. Tete for Rafael could be the only change from the draw with Manchester City last time out though, which would mean Bertrand Traore and Moussa Dembele missing out on starting roles. Traore may start up front, however, if Lyon opt for a more attacking line-up.
Maxwel Cornet – Scored twice against Manchester City in their most recent Champions League game to move to four for the season.
Memphis Depay – As well as being joint-top scorer with ten goals so far this season, the pacey Dutchman has contributed ten assists.
Moussa Dembele – Scored in the reverse fixture and has five goals for the season so far – he can make an impact, even if it is just from the bench.
Lyon are without a win in their last three matches but have had an extended break after last weekend’s match with Toulouse was postponed due to the political unrest in France. Lyon led twice against Manchester City but Max Cornet’s double was cancelled out in a 2-2 draw, before Bertrand Traore and Moussa Dembele rescued the same result, from 2-0 down, away to Lille. At home to Rennes last time out, Lyon lost 2-0.
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