Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Inter Milan
Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Inter Milan Tuesday 27th October 2020 – 17:55 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League Group B
Pick: Inter Milan to WIN
Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 25th October 2020)
Preview: In a repeat of their Europa League semi-final in August, which Inter Milan won emphatically, Shakhtar Donetsk will hope to build on their sensational victory on Matchday 1 when they host last season’s Italian Serie A runners-up at OSC Metalist stadium, Kharkiv.
UEFA Champions League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Shakhtar Donetsk Preview – Pitmen out to spring further upset?
Undeniably the standout result on Matchday 1 took place in Madrid as an under-strength Shakhtar Donetsk went to the Alfredo di Stefano, where Real Madrid currently play home games as renovations on the Bernabeu continue, and claimed a 3-2 victory over the 13-time European champions. A result as shocking as it was deserved. The Ukrainians racing into a 3-0 lead before half-time on an incredible evening.
Last week was no smash and grab display either. Shakhtar creating the better of the chances, both on the eye test and in terms of xG (RMA 1.05 – 1.41 SHK). Therefore the Ukrainian league champions in each of the past four terms perhaps earned their luck late on, when the Spanish side were denied an equaliser through VAR intervention. However, their inconsistency was laid bare over the weekend.
Boosted by the return of several first-team members who were missing in Madrid, The Pitmen came unstuck on their return to domestic action on Saturday, held to a 1-1 draw at home by the ten men of Vorskla Poltava. Luis Castro’s side remaining off the pace in this season’s Ukrainian Premier League (W3 D4), but can find comfort in the fact they sit atop Group B in this season’s Champions League.
Inter Milan Preview – Nerazzurri can atone for San Siro setback?
When Romelu Lukaku struck the opening goal four minutes into the second half, the consensus was that Inter Milan – a three-time former winner of this competition – would go on to register victory at home to Borussia Monchengladbach. In the end, the Nerazzurri were indebted to another Lukaku goal for salvaging a 2-2 draw at the San Siro that served as a reminder of the potential pitfalls in Group B.
After dropping points on their own patch, Antonio Conte’s men must make up the slack elsewhere. However there is arguably no venue more favourable than Ukraine. Inter have never lost in Europe to a team from Ukraine. Meanwhile, a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in last season’s semi-final of the Europa League extended that impressive run to six wins from nine such games (W6 D3).
Inter were incredibly unfortunate on Matchday 1, though, generating a staggering 3.51 xG on the night. That was more than twice that of the German side. Just as impressive was their display this past weekend, limiting Genoa to next to nothing as they eased to their third win in five in Serie A (W3 D1 L1). Unsurprisingly, Romelu Lukaku again found the target, bringing his total for the season to seven goals in six games.
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Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Inter Milan Betting Advice
Whereas Shakhtar Donetsk came away from Matchday 1 with more than they could possibly have hoped for, after stunning Real Madrid to win 3-2 in Spain, Inter Milan were left ruing countless missed goalscoring opportunities in a 2-2 draw with Monchengladbach in Italy. Therefore the onus to pick up three points leans more prominently on the Italians, who are backed to do just that.
Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Inter Milan – Key Facts
- Last week’s 3-2 triumph away to Real Madrid marked only a third win in their last 14 Champions League matches for Shakhtar Donetsk (W3 D6 L5).
- Inter were held in Italy on Matchday 1, drawing 2-2 with Borussia Monchengladbach, and have won just four of sixteen previous away Champions League games (W4 D4 L8).
- These teams met in the 2019-20 Europa League semi-finals in August, Inter Milan winning 5-0. The Italians have never lost versus Ukrainian opposition (W6 D3).
Antonio Conte’s men were mighty impressive on Matchday 1. Inter Milan creating a host of chances but lacked a clinical edge. They dusted themselves off over the weekend, though, registering a comfortable success in Genoa. Shakhtar, meanwhile, were held at home as they try to get players up to speed following spells in self-isolation. Inter blew this same opposition away in August and should again prove too strong in Ukraine.
Best Betting Odds – Shakhtar Donetsk – Inter Milan
Shakhtar Donetsk – 18/5 (Unibet)
Draw – 3/1 (BetFred)
Inter Milan – 4/5 (BetVictor)
