Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk Preview
Just like Chelsea and Manchester United, Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk face off in a Champions League quarter-final at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night. Barcelona are Champions League favourites so Shakhtar has steep odds to beat the Spanish side.
Barca have created a gap in La Liga at eight points ahead of Real Madrid. They beat Arsenal 4-3 in their last 16 Champions League match and are on track to reclaim the Champions League silverware they won in 2009. Lionel Messi has 40 goals on the season and shines on the European stage. The Argentinean has scored 25 goals in his last 30 Champions League matches, including 14 in his last 11. He has 9/4 odds at SkyBet to score first. Villa, who hasn’t scored in his last six matches for the Spanish side, is second in the betting to score first with 11/4 odds at Skybet.
Shakhtar could take advantage of Barca’s defence with Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal out with injuries, but Maxwell and Pedro are back. The Spaniards have won their last eight Champions League matches at home and scored 12 goals at the Nou Camp.
Shakhtar are coming off a 6-2 victory over Roma in the last round and have won their last five Champions League fixtures, with nine wins in their last 10 in the tournament. During that span, they have scored 26 goals, which gives value for both teams to score in the first half with 9/2 odds at SkyBet.
Their attack comes from Eduardo, formerly of Arsenal. But, Luiz Adriano will likely get the starting nod over him with four goals in Europe this term. He has good value with 5/1 odds at SkyBet to score in 90 minutes. Or, go for Willian, who scored twice against Roma. The Chelsea transfer has 7/1 odds at SkyBet to score in 90 minutes. Shakhtar have only two wins in 12 matches against Spanish sides, but both came against Barca, the latest being in 2008 at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk Match Odds (supplied by SkyBet)
Barcelona: 1/6
Draw: 6/1
Shakhtar Dontesk: 14/1