18 October 2021, 16:41 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The UEFA Champions League Group D fixture, Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Real Madrid CF, kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, October 19, at the NSC Olimpiyskiy. Referee Srdjan Jovanović (SRB) will have the final say on the pitch, while the assistant referees, Uroš Stojković (SRB) and Milan Mihajlović (SRB) will lend a helping hand. Christian Dingert (GER) will be the Video Assistant Referee.
Preview Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League, Oct 19, 2021
Preview Shakhtar Donetsk returns to the circle of champions after a smashing 6-1 victory over Zorya Luhansk at the weekend in the Ukrainian Premier League. The club sits in 2nd place in the domestic league following the comfortable win which leaves Shakhtar unbeaten in five games across all competitions: WWDDW. On Matchday 2, the Ukrainian outfit held the Italian champions, Inter Milan, to a goalless draw on home soil. The draw leaves Shakhtar at the bottom of UCL Group D, with only 1 point and a G.D. of -2 after 0W, 1D & 1L. Manager Roberto De Zerbi will fancy a win, but three points against Madrid could be too much to ask for. Shakhtar have won only four of their last 21 UEFA Champions League matches (4W, 9D & 8L), while picking up only five wins in 17 European matches on home soil (5W, 7D, & 5L). Furthermore, the Pitmen have won only seven in 27 meetings against Spanish opposition (7W, 6D, & 14L). On Tuesday, the Italian coach will aim for an improvement on the record. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Fernando in attack is expected following Lassina Traoré’s unavailability due to a knee injury. Júnior Moraes and Yevgen Konoplyanka remain in doubt for this fixture.
Preview Real Madrid Champions League, Oct 19, 2021
Preview Real Madrid was stunned in the 2-0 defeat to UEFA Champions League debutants, FC Sheriff Tiraspol on Matchday 2. The Spanish side returns, well-rested, following the weekend’s fixture against Athletic Club postponed on request. On Tuesday, Ancelotti will try to make up for lost points following that famous defeat to the Sheriff. However, Madrid remains in 2nd place in Group D, while having 3 points after 1W, 0D & 1L. The Spanish side has won only two of their last eight away games on Ukrainian soil (2W, 4D, & 2L). A 4—3—3 formation with Benzema, Hazard, and Vinicius Jnr. in attack is expected from the Madrid boss, Ancelotti on Tuesday. Benzema's strike in the 2-1 defeat to Tiraspol left him on par with Messi’s record of scoring in 17 successive UEFA Champions League campaigns. Madrid will be without Dani Ceballos and Marcelo on UCL Matchday 3. Gareth Bale is ruled out with a knee injury while Daniel Carvajal’s availability remains in question. Eduardo Camavinga picked up a knock but is expected to be available on Tuesday.