Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Shakhtar Donetsk
Match Time & Date:
02/10/2024
12:45 PM
Prediction: 2-2
Atalanta
After dropping two points in a 1-1 draw with Veres-Rivne, Shakhtar Donetsk will look to return to winning ways when they face Atalanta at Veltins Arena. The Miners shared the spoils with Bologna in their Champions League opener and, no doubt, they would be happy with one point from Wednesday’s clash as well. Oleksandr Zubkov is widely expected to return to the starting XI, while goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov remains in the recovery room.
The Orobici, on the other hand, aim to put an end to their three-game winless run in all competitions. As Atalanta will go for a win as well, we believe that there is a big value in betting on both teams to score. All Rafael Toloi, Gianluca Scamacca, and Giorgio Scalvini are out of contention through injuries for the visiting team. In their last meeting in the elite competition, back in 2019, Atalanta defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 and yet another high-scoring affair is on the cards.
Highlighted Player (Marten de Roon):
After spending his youth career in ASWH, Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam, Marten de Roon made his senior debut on 27 March 2010. The midfielder played for Sparta against Twente back then, but he made no more than three appearances for de Kasteelheren in the 2009/2010 season.
Marten de Roon joined Heerenveen in 2012 and in 2015 he moved to Serie A side Atalanta. He made 36 appearances for Atalanta in the 2015/2016 Serie A campaign, but on 4 July, 2016, he signed a contract with Middlesbrough for a reported fee of £12m. The Dutch footballer scored one goal in three appearances for Netherlands U19 team.
Marten de Roon was born in Zwinjndrecht, Netherlands on 29 March, 1991. His main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing as a defensive and attacking midfielder as well. Martin de Roon is a right-footed footballer and he is 185 cm tall.
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.
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