Shakhtar Donetsk vs Juventus preview

December 4, 2012
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

With Shakhtar already through and Juventus needing just one point to qualify, there are many of those who believe this match will end in draw.

However, providing the two sides play it fair and square, we should see a highly entertaining encounter a Donbass Arena.

Having been placed in the same group as Champions League winners and Serie A champions, Shakhtar were not exactly seen as favourites to go through, but Mircea Lucescu’s side have largely impressed against their more illustrious opponents.

With unlucky defeat at Stamford Bridge team’s only under-par result of the campaign, the Miners managed to secure their place in the next stage, with all that’s left is to pip Juventus to the first place in the standings.

Even if draw is quoted as the most likely outcome here, the hosts might want to make amends for Luiz Adriano’s controversial goal against Nordsjaelland, with BetVictor paying 3.60 (13/5) on home win.

After bagging 18 goals in 17 league games, playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan is 3.60 (13/5) with Sportingbet to score against Juventus.

Apart from suspended Luiz Adriano, boss Mirceal Lucescu has no other selection problems ahead of the clash with Juventus.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Pyatov – Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Rat – Fernandinho, Stepanenko – Teixeira, Mkhitaryan, Willian – Eduardo.

While they eased off to the first place in the Serie A standings, Juventus did experience some problems on their return to Europe’s elite competition.

Opening draws against Chelsea, Shakhtar and Nordsjaelland put their Champions League qualification in danger, but the Bianconeri then impressed to record comfortable victories over Nordjsaelland and Chelsea.

As a result, they are now on the verge of qualifying for the next stage and only need one point from Donetsk to make it through.

With the Serie A champions experts in result-oriented performances, it is no wonder Coral, featuring the highest price on the market, pay mere 1.91 (10/11) on draw.

Giorgio Chiellini, Arturo Vidal and Kwadwo Asamoah return to the starting line-up, but Claudio Marchisio is suspended.

Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco are vying for a place alongside misfiring Mirko Vucinic in attack.

Probable starting line-up (3-5-2): Buffon – Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini – Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah – Vucinic, Quagliarella.

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