Shakhtar Donetsk – Marseille : Preview & Prediction
For the sixth consecutive season, Shakhtar Donetsk failed to advance from their group in the UEFA Champions League. Now, for the second consecutive campaign, it enters the Europa League playoffs, where it will surely hope for a less dramatic result than its penalty shootout win over Rennes at this stage last season.
A French club stands in the way again, this time being Marseille, a team Shakhtar beat in their two previous meetings. Although the Miners continue to play their home games in Germany, they will be hoping to continue their strong home form against Ligue 1 sides (G4, E4, P1), and few would bet against them considering they have lost just two of their last eight home games in European competition (G3, E3).
Marseille don’t look likely to damage that record, as their only win in their last seven matches was a mediocre 1-0 scoreline against fifth-division opposition (E4, P2). Gennaro Gattuso’s men are five points off the European places in Ligue 1, so perhaps returning to Europa League action could be a welcome distraction amid their domestic struggles.
With just two wins in their last eight European away games (E1, P5), Marseille could have more misery on opposition soil as they have never won an away game against Ukrainian opposition (E2, P1). However, advancing out of a Europa League group for the first time in six years could give this team a major boost, as they eventually reached the final in the 2017/18 campaign, where they lost to Atletico Madrid.
Players to watch: Shakhtar have not played an official match since matchday six of the Champions League in December. Oleksandr Zubkov starred for the team that day with an assist, and he also starred in his three previous appearances (two goals, one assist). Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored five goals in the group stage, and is on the verge of making history as he is just one goal shy of the competition record held by Radamel Falcao (30).
Weekend stat: Marseille’s Europa League group stage matches registered a total of 24 goals, which is tied for the second-highest total in the competition.
Shakhtar Donetsk – Marseille : Betting Tips
Shakhtar Donetsk – Win Odds: 3.25
