UEFA Champions League 2019-20, matchday-5: Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk preview, predicted XI, team news and more

Match preview

Manchester City have been Champions League regulars since the 2011-12 season. Following a group-stage exit that season and another in the next season, the reigning English champions have reached at least the Round of 16 in each of their subsequent six appearances.

City are one of six unbeaten teams this season, having beaten each of the three teams in their group once (Shakhtar away, Dinamo Zagreb home, Atalanta home) while drawing 1-1 at tournament debutants Atalanta on matchday-4.

They will now host Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday-5, hoping to seal their progress to the knockout rounds.

Shakhtar are making their 14th appearance in the Champions League this season. In all but three campaigns, the Ukrainian champions failed to negotiate the group-stage of the competition. With two match-days remaining, Shakhtar and Dinamo Zagreb trail group-leaders Manchester City by five points.

With a win over Shakhtar, City will qualify for the Round of 16 as group winners. The English club will also be through to the knockout round if they avoid defeat against Shakhtar or if Dinamo do not beat Atalanta in the other group game.

Shakhtar will qualify for the Round of 16 if if they win against City and Dinamo lose to Atalanta (owing to their superior head-to-head record against the Croatian team).

Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk head-to-head

This would be the sixth meeting in the last three seasons between Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk; the two clubs locked horns for the first time in the 2017-18 group-stage.

Manchester City: 4 wins

Shakhtar Donetsk: 1 win

Draws: None

Form guide

Last 5 games in all competitions (most recent game first)

City have lost only thrice in their last 28 games in all competitions, with all three defeats coming in the Premier League this season. Like their matchday-5 hosts, Shakhtar have also lost only three times this season.

Manchester City: W (Premier League) - L (Premier League) -D (Champions League) - W (Premier League) - W (Premier League).

Shakhtar Donestsk: W (Ukrainian League) - W (Ukrainian League) - D (Champions League) - W (Ukrainian League) - W (Ukrainian League).

Last 5 games in the Champions League (most recent game first)

Manchester City: D-W-W-W-L

Shakhtar Donestsk: D-D-W-L-D

Last 5 home games in the Champions League (Man City)

At home, City are on a seven-game winning run in the Champions League since a 2-1 defeat to French club Olympique Lyonnais on matchday-1 last season.

Manchester City: W-W-W-W-W

Last 5 away games in the Champions League (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Shakhtar Donetsk: D-W-W-L-D

Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk team news

Manchester City

Rodri, Sergio Aguero and David Silva are doubtful starters against Shakhtar while Leroy Sane, Oleks Zinchenko and Aymeric Laporte are long-term absentees. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is unavailable due to suspension.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Moraes, Andriy Totovytsky, Oleksandr Pikhalyonok, Maksim Malyshev, Manor Solomon, Marlos Bonfim, and Yevhen Konoplyanka are injury absentees.

Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk predicted line-ups

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson - Angelino, Fernandinho, Stones, Cancelo - De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden - Sterling, Jesus, B Silva.

Shakhtar Donetsk (4-2-3-1): Pyatov - Bolbat, Matvyenko, Krivtsov, Ismaily - Patrick, Stepanenko - Tete, Kovalenko, Taison - Boryachuk.

Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk prediction

Despite their fluctuating form in the league where they have lost thrice, City are one of six unbeaten teams in the Champions League this season. Considering their recent ascendancy against Shakhtar (12 unanswered goals in their last three games), this match is also expected to follow the same trend.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Also check out:Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers

Edited by Musab Abid