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Form
Shakhtar Donetsk
The Miners are enjoying a fine run of form at the moment. The hosts of this game are currently sitting atop the standings in the Ukrainian league, and look certain book a place in the Europa League.
Shakhtar pummeled Malmo 4-0 in their last European outing, and their last five games in all competitions have seen a score of 22-3 in their favour, including a 7-1 shellacking of Zorya in the league.
The home side clearly appear to be the in-form team of the two, and may continue in the same vein to avenge their 4-0 loss on the opening day to Real Madrid.
Recent form (All competitions): L-W-W-W-W (Last game: Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 Volyn)
Real Madrid
The capital club are in a spot of bother currently. Having put to the sword by PSG in the narrow 1-0 victory earlier this month, they were handed their first loss of the season by Sevilla in a 3-2 defeat, that was followed by a morale-sapping 4-0 mauling at the hands of arch-rivals Barcelona, moreover in their own backyard.
So the visitors are out to prove a point and Benitez must engineer a win here to cut himself some slack.
Recent form (All competitions): W-W-W-L-L (Last game: Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona)
Key facts and figures:
Shakhtar forward Alex Teixeira has scored 21 goals in 22 games in all competitions.
Real Madrid are the only team remaining in the Champions League this season who are yet to concede.
Real Madrid have lost only thrice in their last 30 European games.
Los Blancos haven’t lost three games in a row since May 2009.
Real Madrid have won only once and lost only once, in their six trips to Ukraine.
Prediction
Pressures mounting on the under-fire Real Madrid honcho Rafael Benitez who desperately needs to churn out a result from his side. Some shaky defending coupled with the poor form of many a few key players has seen the Madrid outfit lose grip in the La Liga title hunt, but can approach this game as a chance to get themselves back on track especially after the weekend drubbing in El Clasico.
The Meringues may not be in the best of their form at the moment, but still have enough weapons in their arsenal to gun Shakhtar down.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Real Madrid
Betting odds (Bet365)
Shakhtar Donetsk – 56/19
Draw – 37/13
Real Madrid – 9/10
