Barcelona is all set to play on their home turf against Shakhtar Donetsk at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in the third round of the Champions League.
This season, Barcelona's journey in the Champions League has been quite smooth so far. They convincingly won their first two matches. In the opening game, they cruised to a 5-0 victory against Antwerp. Then, in the second match, they edged out Porto with a score of 1-0, thanks to Ferran Torres, who netted a goal just before halftime.
Shakhtar, on the other hand, had a rocky start in the Champions League this season. They suffered a defeat in their opening match against FC Porto. However, they bounced back in the next game, staging a remarkable comeback by scoring three goals to win 3-2 against Antwerp. The top bookmakers in India have fantastic Champions League odds with them.
Ter Stegen has allowed just 10 goals to slip past him and has made an impressive 28 remarkable saves.
The betting tip is...
Barcelona to keep a clean sheet
57 %
43 %
Gavi won't be able to play in the upcoming match against Shakhtar as he received a red card during the Porto game. This adds to the list of absentees, which already includes Sergi Roberto, Raphinha, and Frenkie de Jong due to their ongoing injuries.
Given these challenges, the team is putting a lot of focus on Félix's performance. He has shown remarkable accuracy in hitting the target with his shots, at an impressive 25%. Moreover, Félix has been a key contributor with a total of 5 goals and assists combined. He's definitely a player worth keeping an eye on during the match.
Pedri is expected to start for Barca.
Predicted Lineup: Marc-André ter Stegen, Alejandro Balde, Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé, João Cancelo, Gündogan, Lopez, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Yamal, Félix.
In preparation for their upcoming clash with Barcelona, Shakhtar Donetsk made a bold move by parting ways with manager Patrick van Leeuwen and his entire coaching staff. As they set out on their Champions League adventure in Spain, Srna will be taking charge.
Two standout players to watch for Shakhtar are Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov, both of whom boast an impressive 20% accuracy rate in getting their shots on target. They play a crucial role in the team's strategy.
Rakitskiy is expected to start against Barca.
Predicted Lineup: Dmytro Riznky, Yukhym Konoplia, Mykola Matviyenko, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Irakli Azarovi, Taras Stepanenko, Oleksandr Zubkov, Yehor Nazaryna, Dmytro Kryskiv, Danylo Sikan, Heorhii Sudakov,
Barcelona is riding high on a wave of exceptional form, hitting peak performance in recent weeks. They've been remarkably dominant in their last five encounters against Shakhtar Donetsk, notching up four wins.
With the dynamic duo of Felix and Torres leading the charge, Barcelona possesses a formidable attacking force that can dismantle any opposition. It's no wonder, with an impressive 68.18% average possession, that they're expected to set the pace in this upcoming game.
On the other side of the coin, Shakhtar Donetsk can pack a punch on their good days. Sikan, who has had a hand in 7 goals and assists combined, and Riznyk, with 25 crucial saves under his belt, make them a genuine challenge for Barcelona.
However, it's evident that Barcelona boasts a superior squad, filled with outstanding talent and tactical finesse, which firmly establishes them as the clear favorites in this exciting match.
