Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma Predictions & Betting Odds – 21st February 2018

Draw on the cards in Kharkhiv

Champions League Betting

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 21st February 7.45pm

These two will be back together for the first time since the 2010/11 Champions League season. It was Shakhtar who came out on top in that tie, however, in recent seasons both they and Roma have struggled at his stage of the competition. Shakhtar have lost two of their last three ties at this stage of the competition while Roma have lost each of their last three round of sixteen ties and haven’t managed to get to the quarter finals in the last decade. So there is a huge opportunity for one of these to break out of their round of sixteen slump in the competition and it may be a tight battle all the way.

Shakhtar Donetsk News and Form

It has been a good campaign from Shakhtar Donetsk considering that they were drawn in a group along with Napoli and Manchester City. They couldn’t catch Man City, but they held off their Italian opposition to get through in second place. The Ukrainians have lost two of their last three round of 16 ties then with their most recent prior visit being against Bayern Munich in the 2014/15 season when they lost 7-0 on aggregate. But they have stayed unbeaten in their previous three home games at this stage with a W1 D2 record. They also won all three of their home games in the group stage, an opening win over Napoli setting them up well and then after seeing off Feyenoord too, sprung a surprise over Man City, although the Citizens had already won the group by then. Shakhtar’s home record against Italian sides is W4 L6 and their record in two-legged knockout ties against a side from Italy is W1 L3, their 2010/11 triumph over Roma their only success. The Pitmen aren’t actually playing at home in Europe this season they are in Kharkiv and they have gone W6 D5 L4 in their last fourteen home games in the main draw of European competitions (qualifiers not included). Under 2.5 goals at 3/4 odds with bet365 has appeal* (Betting Odds taken on February 18th, 2018 at 5:05 p.m.). Including qualifying matches, Shakhtar have a tremendously impressive W10 D2 L1 recird in their last thirteen European home games.

Roma News and Form

This is no easy first leg for Roma then as they look to snap a sequence of three straight exits at the round of 16 in the Champions League. The overall record of the Italians at this stage of the competition is W2 L3. Roma have lost each of their last four away games in the round of sixteen and their record out in the Ukraine is only W1 L3 with their overall record against Ukrainian opposition is W3 L5. Back in the group stage, Roma took four points from their three away games, holding out for a point at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, losing at Atletico Madrid and beating Qarabag. The Italians finished with 11 points, which was the lowest amount of all eight group winners. Actually going back to their win at Qarabag, that snapped an eight-match winless streak of games in the Champions League (home and away) that they were on. Overall in their last 21 Champions League fixtures, Roma have won just four of them (D8 L9) so they have had some real troubles in stepping up in the competition. In the bet365 correct score market the 1-1 draw is at 5/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken on February 15th, 2018 at 5:05 p.m.). At least they can carry a little current form into the game having won each of their last three Serie A fixtures.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma Head to Head

It was back in the 2010/11 round of sixteen that these two previously met and it was pretty comfortable in the end for Shakhtar as well. The Ukrainians rolled out a 3-2 win in Rome giving themselves a huge advantage and they eased to a 2-0 home win in the second leg, with both goals coming from current Chelsea star Willian.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma Betting Odds*

Shakhtar Donetsk 6/4, Roma 9/5, Draw 9/4* (Betting Odds taken on February 16th, 2018 at 6:05 p.m.)

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma Predictions

The draw has the most appeal in this one. Roma are a decent side but this is a tough away game for them. Shakhtar will want to give everything to try and get an advantage to the board because the second leg will be tough. Just settle on this tie still being even after the first leg. Draw.