RB Leipzig vs Shakhtar Donetsk prediction, preview | Champions League 2022-23
Leipzig will play at home against Shakhtar Donetsk in the 1st round of the Champions League group stage. The match will take place on September 6, starting at 19:00 GMT.
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Champions League 2022-23
 RB Leipzig | vs |  Shakhtar Donetsk |
Preview
Start of the season RB Leipzig started showing signs of a resurgence with ten goals in two consecutive wins over Wolfsburg (2-0) and fourth division club Teutonia Ottensen (8-0).
But their 0-4 loss away to Eintracht Frankfurt left them desperate for self-confidence ahead of their fourth straight group stage appearance.
The club also underperformed in their 2021/22 Champions League campaign, losing three of their four Bundesliga matches before losing 3-6 to Manchester City on the first matchday en route to qualifying from the group stage.
Not only do the former semi-finalists suffer from such poor preparation for their previous trip to the Champions League.
Shakhtar Donetsk have had an extra day to freshen up before this trip after consecutive 1-0 home wins, but may still be lacking match practice due to the Ukrainian Premier League’s late start.
The club will also have the added difficulty of playing all six matches outside their home country, although a quick sale of tickets for their first home game in Warsaw should lift their spirits.
Shakhtar are not looking to progress, especially after a winless run in Group D last season, which left Shakhtar with just four wins in their last four matches in the Champions League group stage.
Three of those four victories were away, so maybe that’s coupled with the head coach’s determination to move Ukrainian football forward.
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Players to watch
RB Leipzig have a few stars in their roster that will create danger in this game. Christopher Nkunku will enjoy a return to Leipzig, scoring in each of his last four home matches in all competitions.
It will be very difficult for the Ukrainian team to play in the Champions League, as a lot of players have left the team. Shakhtar’s young midfielder Artem Bondarenko could pose a threat to the visitors, having scored in four of the last seven matches.
Head to Head
- Tuesday’s game will be the first meeting between Leipzig and Shakhtar in official matches.
- The hosts have played only two matches against Ukrainian rivals and are unbeaten in both matches.
- Leipzig have scored at least one goal in all 16 matches except one this year.
Bring it on! 👊#UCL || #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/z9IBs4zdUA
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 25, 2022
Prediction
| RB Leipzig win 1.29 | Draw 6.75 | Shakhtar Donetsk win 11.50 |
Stats: Four of Shakhtar’s last five Champions League trips to Germany have ended in losses by 3+ goals, with the exception of a 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim in 2018/19.
The last result of the “hosts” was that their two-game winning streak ended in their last match, which was their sixth of their last eight games in the competition.
The club have not lost in the last two home games and will aim to extend this streak.
Meanwhile, Shakhtar are on a three-game unbeaten streak. However, they missed competitive action for quite a long time and it will be very difficult in this match.
Prediction for this match: RB Leipzig to win -1.5 handicap.
- Both Teams To Score – Yes.
- Shakhtar to score.
