Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Barcelona
Match Time & Date:
25/10/2023
18:45
Prediction: 3-0
Shakhtar Donetsk
Barcelona will look to keep their 100% record in Group H intact when they take on Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. The Catalan giants are still without key attacker Robert Lewandowski, who remains in the recovery room alongside Sergi Roberto, Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong, and Raphinha, while Pedri should be fit for the match. Midfielder Gavi serves a one-game ban following his sending-off in a 1-0 win over Porto.
The Miners, on the other hand, quickly bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Porto, with the team beating Antwerp 3-2 in their second group game. Barcelona, though, are a real force to be reckoned with at home and despite Lewandowski’s injury, home win should be considered. Valeriy Bondar has overcome his injury, but fellow defender Stav Lemkin remains on the sidelines with injury. In their last meeting in Catalonia, back in 2011 Barcelona hammered Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1.
Highlighted Player (Ilkay Gundogan):
Ilkay Gundogan is a German footballer of Turkish origin who made a name for himself playing for Borussia Dortmund. The skilful midfielder began his professional career at VFL Bochum, but it was at Nurnberg that he was given the opportunity to prove his undoubted potential. He needed just two years to make Germany’s top clubs stand up and take notice and the Millionaires secured his signature for mere €4 million.
That would prove to be a great investment as Gundogan quickly slotted straight into the starting line-up and became a playmaker in the side led by Jurgen Klopp and later Thomas Tuchel. The midfield maestro kept being linked with clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona and Arsenal, but he resisted temptation to leave Borussia Dortmund, winning one Bundesliga trophy with the club and making it to the Champions League final.
Gundogan unfortunately missed the 2014 World Cup finals through injury, but there is still time for the BVB star to make things right and lift a major international trophy with Germany.
Highlighted Team (Shakhtar Donetsk):
Despite the fact that they were founded back in 1936, Shakhtar Donetsk were struggling to win the Ukrainian Premier League trophy until 2002. The Miners have established themselves as the dominant force in Ukrainian football and it has to be noted that they won their ninth domestic trophy in 2014.
Shakhtar Donetsk were playing at Donbass Arena in the past, but due to war in Donbass the club temporarily moved to Arena Lviv. In 2009 the Miners won the UEFA Cup trophy under Romanian boss Mircea Lucescu, beating Werder Bremen in the title game. Croatian full back Dario Srna was named the man of the match. Dynamo Kiev are considered Shakhtar Donetsk’s main rivals and there have always been fireworks in meetings between the two sides.
Shakhtar have a rivalry with Metalurh Donetsk as well and the two local rivals face each other in the Donetsk Derby. Chelsea ace Willian, Manchester United star Mkhitaryan and Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho all played for Shakhtar in the past.
Real Madrid 
Sevilla
Tottenham
Liverpool
Wolfsburg 
Borussia Dortmund
Monza 
Juventus
