Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica
20th February 1755hrs
Football – Europe – UEFA League
Pick Benfica
Bookmaker bet365
Odds: 19/10 odds taken 21:35 GMT Tuesday 18th February
This is a unique tie in the round of 32 of this season’s UEFA Europa League. It is the only one of the fixtures in which both teams had previously competed in this season’s Champions League. Will home advantage set Shakhtar up in this tie? Or will it be Benfica’s favourable form in Ukraine that wins out?
Table of Contents
Can Shakhtar do the business at home?
Shakhtar Donetsk only missed out on a place in the round of sixteen in the UEFA Champions League on match day six of the group stage. They were at home against Italian side Atalanta and needed to win it to get through.
However, the Ukranian side were crushed 3-0, their joint-heaviest home defeat in European action.
So they need to pick themselves up from that. During their Champions League group stage, the Pitmen only managed the one win, which was away at Atalanta, collecting six points in total from their six games played.
They are W3 D3 L3 from their nine previous home games played against Portuguese opposition. But Shakhtar have won their last two in such fixtures.
Those were victories over Braga. Shakhtar are currently running along on a seven-match winless streak of European home form (D4 L3).
The Pitmen have only come through one of their five previous UEFA Europa League round of 32 ties. That was in the 2015/16 season when they managed to go right through to the semi-finals.
Can the Eagles win on the road?
Benfica have played away five times against Ukrainian opposition and from those fixtures have returned a W3 L2 record. Their most recent visit there was a visit to Dinamo Kyiv which the Eagles collected a 2-0 victory in.
That was in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage. Home and away, Benfica are on a four-match winning streak against Ukranian opposition.
In this season’s Champions League group stage, Benfica’s chances of qualification ended on match day five when they drew 2-2 with Leipzig. They confirmed a third-place finish by beating Zenit 3-0 at home.
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Benfica have won all five of their previous round of 32 ties in the UEFA Europa League. Their most recent was against Galatasaray in 2018/19.
They are also boasting a 10 match unbeaten streak of away form from their ten previous road games at this stage of the competition.
The Portuguese outfit have won their last four such fixtures. Their overall away record in the UEFA Europa League knockout phase is W8 D5 L5 but have won only 3 of their last 16 European away games.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica Betting Advice
Benfica’s away record in terms of wins recently in European action is nothing great. But they seem to enjoy facing Ukrainian opposition, having won their last four such games and the Portuguese side are worth backing.
Key Facts – Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica Betting Tip
- Shakhtar Donetsk are winless in seven European home games
- Shakhtar Donetsk failed to win a home game in this season’ UCL group stage
- Benfica are unbeaten in 10 previous R32 away games
The Pitmen are out of form on home soil in European action and there is a great chance here for the visiting Benfica to get themselves a big advantage in the tie. A win by a one-goal margin looks like a solid proposition.
The best betting odds for Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica
Shakhtar Donetsk to win: 7/5 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at Bet365
Benfica: 19/10 at Bet365
