Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips
| Timetable | 17:45 - 25 Oct 23 |
| Prediction | Barcelona To Win! |
| Odds | 1.20 |
| Bookmaker | Dachbet Sports |
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Barcelona have already taken charge of UEFA Champions League Group H, sitting top of the pile with six points and a 100% record after two games. They’re also unbeaten in 12 matches across all competitions this season, while they haven’t lost at the Nou Camp since a 2-1 reversal to Real Sociedad on May 20th. As for their gameweek three opponents Shakhtar, they were beaten 3-1 at home by Porto in their Group H opener, but a narrow, 3-2 victory at Antwerp saw them move third in the table and just three points off the top. But can they topple the mighty Barca on the road, or will Xavi’s men take a huge step towards the round of 16? Let’s find out in this comprehensive football betting and prediction page!
🏆 Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk
These two sides have met six times previously in official UEFA competition, with Barcelona winning on four occasions and Shakhtar prevailing twice. One of Shakhtar’s wins also came at the Nou Camp in the 2008/09 group stages, with Fernandinho’s 76th-minute goal securing an historic 3-2 victory. Barca won the subsequent two meetings in the 2010/11 ULC quarterfinal, including a 5-1 home victory that contributed to a 6-1 aggregate win.
Unsurprisingly, Barca have averaged 63.0% possession during their first two Group H games, compared to just 46.5% for Shakhtar. However, the visitors have been efficient with the possession that they have had, scoring four times from 25 attempts at an impressive goals per shot ratio of 0.16. They’ve also significantly exceeded their expected goals value of 2.8, so will pose a considerable and potent threat in transition when they visit the Nou Camp.
These sides have also produced eight and seven goal-creating actions in their two matches so far and they may be more evenly matched than the ante post odds suggest. So, although I expect Barca to win and continue on their jounrey to the last 16 (while recording an eighth consecutive home victory) here, I think Shakhtar will score at the Nou Camp and more than play their part in an entertaining match!
My Prediction: 🏆 Barcelona 3 – 1 Shakhtar Donetsk ⚽
💯 Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk UCL Match Odds
Our recommended betting sites offer a huge range of UEFA Champions League wagering markets, including those associated with Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk. Below, I’ve previewed the most popular match betting markets and published the latest ante post odds too. You can explore a thoughtfully curated selection of the best betting sites, offering a wide array of options for your consideration.
Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk: Match Winner
Barcelona are odds-on to win and priced as low as 1.16 to beat Shakhtar at the Nou Camp, while the away side can be backed at a market high price of 15.00. This highlights the perceived chasm between the two sides and Barcelona’s incredibly impressive home record.
| Yes/No | .png) |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona to Win | 1.20 | 1.20 | 1.16 | 1.18 | 1.18 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk to Win | 15.00 | 13.00 | 12.70 | 13.00 | 13.00 |
| Draw | 7.00 | 6.50 | 7.05 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk: Both Teams To Score
Barca only conceded four goals at home in the entirety of the 2022/23 La Liga campaign, while they’ve already kept five clean sheets in six matches at the Nou Camp in all competitions this season. However, both sides have scored in nine of the 13 matches contested by Shakhtar this season, including the two UCL games featuring the Ukrainian team.
| Yes/No | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 2.00 | 1.95 | 2.06 | 2.00 | 1.95 |
| No | 1.75 | 1.83 | 1.68 | 1.80 | 2.00 |
Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk: Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Over/under wagering on the total number of goals scored is a popular even money market, and one that sees a great deal of activity around the 2.5 goals betting line. Interestingly, these two sides have scored 80 goals in the 25 matches they’ve contested so far in 2023/24, at a rate of 3.20 per game, so this may influence your betting selections.
| Yes/No | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 2.5 Goals | 1.36 | 1.40 | 1.38 | 1.40 | 1.40 |
| Under 2.5 Goals | 3.00 | 2.88 | 2.79 | 2.75 | 2.80 |
✔️ Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk - Betting Tips
There are some interesting ante post prices in play here, with the odds implying a strong probability that there will be over 2.5 goals scored in the game. However, the bookies are also erring on the side of both sides not scoring at the Nou Camp, so here are some tips to help you make sense of these markets and optimise your potential returns.
- Tip 1: Back Barca to Win With More than 3.5 Goals Scored: There’s very little value to be found when backing Barca to win outright here, especially at an average price of 1.20. However, you can create value through combination betting, which stakes money on Barcelona to win and there to be over 3.5 goals scored in the game. This unlocks the more competitive price of 2.30 with Dachbet Sports, while it reflects Barca’s attacking quality and their average of 28.00 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in the Champions League through 2023/24.
- Tip 2: Back Both Sides to Score (BTTS): The odds imply a higher probability that both sides won’t score at the Nou Camp, but it should be noted that Shakhtar have scored 27 goals in 13 matches at a rate of 2.07 per game this season. They’ve also scored in both of their UCL matches so far and offer a significant threat on the counterattack, so I think there’s genuine value in backing both sides to hit the back of the net at the slightly higher price of 2.06 with Betiton.
- Tip 3: Back Felix to Score First: If you’re on the hunt for a higher risk wager or want to fully maximise a free bet offer, you may want to consider the first goalscorer market. Here, you can back on-loan Portuguese forward João Félix to score first at the generous price of 6.50 with TonyBet, with the striker having deputised well for the injured Robert Lewandowski and scored two UCL goals in two outings so far. However, we’d recommend staking a nominal amount here, as the risk associated with this type of market is considerably higher.
1️⃣ Barcelona Update
Barca haven’t lost in any of their 12 matches this season, with the team having won both Champions League encounters to date and seven of their 10 La Liga games. They’ve also been particularly strong at the Nou Camp, keeping five clean sheets in six matches in 2023/24 while scoring an impressive 18 goals. They’ll also go in search of an eighth consecutive home win in all competitions and have lost just three of their last 26 matches at the Nou Camp since the beginning of last season, while they may even be able to welcome talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski back from injury in time for the visit of Shakhtar!
| Last 5 Games | |
|---|---|
| Barcelona 1 Athletic Bilbao 0 | 22.10.23 La Liga |
| Granada 2 Barcelona 2 | 08.10.23 La Liga |
| Porto 0 Barcelona 1 | 04.10.23 Champions League |
| Barcelona 1 Sevilla 0 | 29.09.23 La Liga |
| Mallorca 2 Barcelona 2 | 26.09.23 La Liga |
The return of Lewandowski from an ankle injury will be a real tonic for Barca, although he’ll face a fitness test ahead of Shakhtar’s visit. Pedri may also be available after a hamstring strain, while Raphinha is also closing in on a return as he recovers from a muscle injury. However, Frenkie de Jong (ankle strain), Jules Kounde (knee) and club captain Sergi Roberto (muscle) remain long-term absentees.
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Robert Lewandowski | Ankle Injury |
| Pedri | Hamstring Injury |
| Frenkie de Jong | Ankle Injury |
| Raphinha | Muscle Injury |
| Sergi Roberto | Muscle Injury |
| Jules Kounde | Knee Injury |
2️⃣ Shakhtar Donetsk Update
While Shakhtar sit third in the Ukranian Premier League at just two points off the top of the table, they’ve only won three of their previous six matches in all competitions. During this sequence, they’ve experienced damaging defeats to both Porto (in the UCL) and Vorskla Poltava at the Arena Lviv, although it’s interesting to note that the side is unbeaten on the road in eight visits so far this season. Their dramatic 3-2 win at Antwerp on October 4th (when they recovered from a two-goal deficit to prevail) also helped to keep their qualification hopes alive. So, they’ll head to the Nou Camp in relatively confident mood and ready to cause a seismic UCL shock!
| Last 5 Games | |
|---|---|
| Shakhtar Donetsk 3 LNZ 0 | 21.10.23 Ukrainian Premier League |
| Rukh Vynnyky 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 2 | 23.09.23 Club Friendly |
| Antwerp 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 3 | 04.10.23 Champions Premier League |
| Shakhtar Donetsk 1 Vorskla Poltava 2 | 30.09.23 Ukrainian Premier League |
| Veres Rivne 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 3 | 26.09.23 Ukrainian Cup |
Shakhtar Donetsk have a largely fully fit squad to choose from ahead of their trip to Spain, although striker Lassina Traoré remains a long-term absentee with a tendon tear. Left winger Ivan Petryak is also a significant doubt with an ankle injury.
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Lassina Traoré | Tendon Tear |
| Ivan Petryak | Ankle Injury |
👕 Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk - Potential Lineups
| Pos. | Barcelona 4-3-3 | Shakhtar Donetsk 4-2-3-1 | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | M. ter Stegen | D. Riznyk | Goalkeeper |
| Right Back | J. Cancelo | Y. Konoplya | Right Back |
| Centre Back | A. Christensen | Y. Rakitskyi | Centre Back |
| Centre Back | I. Martínez | M. Matviyenko | Centre Back |
| Left Back | A. Balde | I. Azarovi | Left Back |
| Midfielder | O. Romeu | Y. Nazaryna | Midfielder |
| Midfielder | I. Gündoğan | T. Stepanenko | Midfielder |
| Midfielder | Gavi | H. Sudakov | Midfielder |
| Wide Forward | F. Torres | O. Zubkov | Wide Forward |
| Striker | J. Felix | D. Sikan | Striker |
| Wide Forward | L. Yamal | D. Kryskiv | Wide Forward |
✒️ Lewis Humphries – Expert Tipster
Lewis Humphries is an experienced football writer and tipster from the UK. He writes regularly about the Champions League, Premier League, Serie A and other competitions, regularly delivering expert match predictions and betting insights. He also successfully predicted the winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while accurately forecasting the outcome of several group stage and knockout games.
