Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips

🏆 Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona

Shakhtar and Barcelona have now met seven times in the UEFA competition, with the Catalan giants having claimed five victories to the Ukrainian side’s two. Barca have also won three games in a row against their gameweek four rivals, with Shakhtar’s last head-to-head victory coming against a youthful Barcelona side on December 9th, 2008.

Barca have averaged 60.0% possession in this season’s UCL, but Shakhtar had 46% of the ball at the Nou Camp (their tournament average is 46.3%) and managed to complete 455 passes while attempting 11 shots on goal. This showcases their ability to compete with a technically proficient and well-drilled side, while it should be noted that Shakhtar have scored an impressive 0.45 goals per shot on target in this season’s UCL.

Shakhtar are clearly comfortable in possession and highly efficient in the attacking phase, while they’re growing increasingly accustomed to their new home at the Volksparkstadion in Germany. So, although Barcelona are unbeaten on the road this season and are on the cusp of qualification, I’m tipping Shakhtar to spring a surprise and edge the Catalans in gameweek four.

💯 Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona UCL Match Odds

The recommended betting sites have all published their odds ahead of the clash between Shakhtar Donetsk and Barcelona, across markets such as the match winner, BTTS and the over/under on how many goals will be scored in the game. Let’s review the latest market odds!

Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona: Match Winner

Despite my prediction, you can back Barcelona to win at odds as low as 1.22 to win in Shakhtar’s temporary home in Germany. Conversely, the Ukrainians are priced as high as 11.00 to win with some sportsbooks, but such odds don’t reflect the true difference between the two sides and their respective performances in gameweek three.

Team
Shakhtar Donetsk to Win	9.50	9.00	9.45	9.50	9.00
Barcelona to Win	1.29	1.28	1.26	1.29	1.30
Draw	6.25	5.75	6.10	6.24	6.00

Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona: Both Teams To Score

Interestingly, Shakhtar Donetsk have scored in every single match that they’ve played this season, including all three games in the 2023/24 Champions League. While Barca have drawn one blank so far, they’ve scored in 14 consecutive matches and kept eight clean sheets in 15 games across all competitions.

Team
Yes	1.79	1.85	1.84	1.81	1.75
No	1.94	1.90	1.90	2.01	2.16

Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona: Over/Under 2.5 Goals

If you engage in over/under betting on total goals, 2.5 goals is the single most popular and relevant wagering line. Interestingly, these teams have played 31 matches combined in 2023/24, scoring 94 goals at a rate of 3.03 per game. So, it’s no surprise that the bookies are predicting there being over 2.5 goals scored in this contest!

Team
Over 2.5 Goals	1.45	1.45	1.42	1.44	1.45
Under 2.5 Goals	2.72	2.70	2.65	2.89	2.75

1️⃣ Shakhtar Donetsk Update

Shakhtar are still third in the Ukranian Premier League, but they’ve only lost once in 11 league games and are just two points off the top. In total, they’ve won 10 and lost just three of 16 competitive matches through 2023/24, including a superb 3-2 victory over Antwerp in UCL gameweek two on October 4th. This game saw them come from 2-0 down to secure a thrilling second-half comeback, although it should be noted that the side has lost more times at home (two) than they have on the road (once) this season. However, they need to avoid losing another here if they’re to remain competitive in the Champions League.

Shakhtar Donetsk remain without striker Lassina Traoré as he continues his recovery from a tendon tear, while left winger Ivan Petryak is also out indefintely with an ankle injury. Right back Yukhym Konoplya will also miss out through suspension after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament at the Nou Camp.

2️⃣ Barcelona Update

Barca have only lost once in 15 matches across all competitions this season, although this came against bitter rivals Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on October 28th. The Catalan giants are also unbeaten in seven games on the road in 2023/24, including a narrow, 1-0 win over FC Porto in the gameweek two of the Champions League. As I’ve touched on, however, their goals supply has slightly dried up in recent weeks, although they still retain the second-highest xG value of 6.6 in the latest iteration of the UCL. Certainly, they’ll be confident of securing qualification to the round of 16 in Germany!

Barcelona’s previous injury crisis has eased of late, with Pedri, Raphinha and Jules Kounde all returning to training and first-team contention in the last couple of weeks. However, this match has come too soon for Frenkie de Jong as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury, while Sergio Roberto has been ruled out with a muscle injury. Despite his domestic ban, Gavi is also available for selection in Germany.

👕 Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona - Potential Lineups

✒️ 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.