Shakhtarvs.Young Boys

Neither side have won or even scored a goal in this competition so far after three matches, with both facing an uphill struggle to make it into the top 24.

Match preview

After early-season defeats to Polissa Zhytomyr and Oleksandriya, Shakhtar have been playing catch up domestically, and even though they responded well, they are still some way off the top.

Despite recording a 2-1 win over Chornomorets Odesa at the weekend, a week after drawing away to Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar remain six points adrift of the two leaders, and they also a long way behind on the continent.

Shakhtar's start has been relatively difficult, but taking just one point from their opening three suggests they will find it very tough to advance.

The Ukrainian side were very fortunate to take a point from Bologna on matchday one, and they have since fallen to defeat against Atalanta and Arsenal, conceding four goals without reply.

Predictions and models have suggested around nine or 10 points will be enough to finish in the top 24, but based on performances and results so far, it is tough to see where Shakhtar will pick up the points required, with trips to PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund to come, as well as a clash with Bayern Munich.

With just two shots on target across their opening three games, no team has had fewer at this stage of the competition in almost a decade, meaning it is no surprise Marino Pusic's side are yet to open their account.

This fixture undoubtedly presents Shakhtar with their best chance to pick up a win, like they did in qualifying against Young Boys back in 2016, recording a 2-0 first-leg victory, before throwing it away in Bern and losing on penalties.

If Shakhtar's start has been disappointing though, then Young Boys' has been catastrophic, with fortunes not improving greatly since the sacking of Patrick Rahmen just nine games into the league season last month.

Joel Magnin has taken caretaker charge, and has led them to wins over Luzern and Basel, but they still appear a level below the top two, losing in Lugano and drawing 0-0 with Zurich.

The Swiss side's finest performance of the season probably came on matchday three of this competition, when they almost held Italian champions Inter Milan to a 0-0 draw, only for Marcus Thuram to net a 93rd-minute winner at the Wankdorf Stadium.

That means that Red Bull Salzburg are the only other team alongside Young Boys to have lost their opening three games without scoring, and the Swiss champions are only off the bottom of the 36-team standings narrowly on goal difference - minus-nine to Slovan Bratislava's minus-10.

Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League form:

D

L

L

Shakhtar Donetsk form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

W

L

Young Boys Champions League form:

W

W

L

L

L

Young Boys form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

D

Team News

The only injury concern for Shakhtar remains that of Tymur Puzankov, who continues to recover from an ACL tear, with Dmytro Kryskiv set to return after missing the last two domestic matches through suspension.

Pusic could go slightly more attacking compared to their trip to Emirates on matchday three, and that could provide an opportunity for more of their young Brazilians to get some Champions League experience.

Marlon Gomes has started their last two matches, and he could be joined in the starting XI by the likes of Pedrinho and Newerton, who have also been handed minutes since the Arsenal defeat.

Visitors Young Boys will be without a number of defenders for this one due to injury, with Mats Seiler, Mohamed Camara, Banhie Zoukrou, Patric Pfeiffer and Saidy Janko all currently absent.

Given the precarious position they are in domestically, and facing tough opponents in Zurich at the weekend, Magnin could not rotate with one eye on this game, as Young Boys were at full strength on Saturday.

Joel Monteiro was sent off in the latter stages of that 0-0 draw, but will be available here before serving his suspension at the weekend against Lugano.

Shakhtar Donetsk possible starting lineup:

Riznyk; Konoplya, Graham, Matviienko, Pedrinho; Marlon Gomes, Kryskiv, Sudakov; Eguinaldo, Sikan, Newerton

Young Boys possible starting lineup:

Van Ballmoos; Blum, Lauper, Benito, Hadjam; Lakomy, Ugrinic, Imeri; Virginius, Ganvoula, Monteiro

We say: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Young Boys

While both sides will see this as an opportunity to get off the mark in front of goal, the search could go on for an elusive win for two sides who have been well off it in Europe so far.

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