Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Atalanta Betting Tips: Both Teams to Score – 11 December 2019

Clean sheets unlikely in Ukraine?

Marlos / Shakhtar ©imago images / Xinhua 11.12.2019

Shakhtar Donetsk V Atalanta

Wednesday 11th December 2019 – 17:55 (kick-off)
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Betfair
UEFA Champions League Betting with 22Bet

(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 9th December 2019 at 20:30)

Preview: Crunch time in Kharkiv on Wednesday with both Shakhtar Donetsk, who continue to play their home games at the Metalist Stadium as opposed to their Donbass Arena, and Atalanta in with a fighting chance of finishing second in Group C.

Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Atalanta Live Stats & Betting Odds

 

Shakhtar Donetsk Preview – Comeback specialists favourites to progress?

Maturity and resilience in abundance. If putting together a four-match unbeaten run since losing 3-0 at home to Manchester City on Matchday 1 wasn’t nearly impressive enough, well how about them falling behind on at least one occasion in all five encounters only to avoid defeat in four of them? Shakhtar Donetsk (2nd – W1 D3 L1, GF8 GA10) have been the comeback specialists thus far, and must now surely be thinking it is their destiny to reach the knockout rounds.

Speaking of destiny, that is in their own hands courtesy of a valuable point earned from arguably the toughest fixture in the group: drawing 1-1 in England with Manchester City. The Ukrainians retained second position on the back of that result, a point clear of Dinamo and two ahead of Atalanta. Therefore a point will likely suffice, although a second victory over the Italians would absolutely seal the deal as far as qualification is concerned.

Shakhtar secured all the spoils when these teams met early into October, departing the San Siro with a smash-and-grab 2-1 victory after finding a winner five minutes into stoppage time. The fact it was an incredibly fortunate success, conceding plenty of chances in the process, will serve as a stark reminder that their task is far from done. They will also need to tighten up defensively, somehow; they are the only team in this group not to have kept a clean sheet so far.

 

Atalanta & Both Teams to Score
10/3

Bet365

 

Atalanta Preview – Can Le Dea unlock their goal potential?

Lauded for their scoring exploits back home, where no team in Serie A has plundered more goals since the beginning of last season. There was understandably much fanfare surrounding Atalanta (4th – W1 D1 L3, GF5 GA12) and how this emerging club from northern Italy would fare on its maiden campaign in Europe’s premier club competition. The answer, so far anyway, has been surprisingly underwhelming.

For a team which has established a credible reputation for its prowess in the final third, it is slightly ironic that Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have only been scoring at the rather modest rate of a goal-a-game thus far. That is the lowest in this group, one they sit bottom of and with a goal difference of minus seven. Fortunately for them the most important statistic is points, and while theirs is still clearly the worst, the fact there are only two separating them from second-placed Shakhtar means all hope is not lost.

Three points from this final fixture, coupled with Man City denying victory for Dinamo Zagreb, and Atalanta would rise from last place into second. Which highlights the significance of their 2-0 win last time out against the Croatians, scoring more than one goal in any game for the first time in this group. A repeat may be needed when coming face-to-face with the only team to have beaten them in Italy, losing 2-1 to the Ukrainians at the San Siro in October.

 

Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Atalanta Key Facts:

  • In four out of five games in this group, Shakhtar Donetsk have trailed at some stage but still managed to either draw or win.
  • Atalanta secured their first ever win in the Champions League on Matchday 5, beating Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 in Italy.
  • On Matchday 2, these two teams met at the San Siro in a game settled by a 95th minute winner, scored by Shakhtar Donetsk in a 2-1 victory.

 

Betting Summary

A point might be sufficient for Shakhtar Donetsk (13/8 Betfair) depending on how the other game in this group goes, but it certainly won’t be enough for Atalanta (13/8 Betfair) who require all three points in order to usurp the Ukrainians in second. We can expect a wholehearted performance from the Italians on this basis then, and perhaps, with their backs firmly against the wall, we will finally witness some of their enormous goal potential in all its glory.

Domestically, Shakhtar Donetsk have been in cruise control for a while now and are comfortably leading the Ukrainian Premier League. Atalanta climbed up to sixth in Serie A after a typically gutsy effort at the weekend, twice coming from behind to beat Hellas Verona 3-2. Neither have kept many clean sheets in this group (Shakhtar 0/5 and Atalanta 1/5), yet both have netted in all but one game. Both teams to score seems like an obvious selection here.