There’s a burgeoning rivalry between Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk unfolding right before our eyes. This is the third straight season we’ve seen them paired up in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The reigning English domestic treble holders won at the Ukrainian side 3-0 back in September, getting goals from Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus. They also won 3-0 in the away leg of this tie last season while putting a massive 6-0 whopping up on Shakhtar last season. Flashing back to 2017-18, Shakhtar claimed their only win in this recent series, 2-1 at home, but lost the Manchester leg 2-0.
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction Shakhtar Donetsk:
Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Stones, Mendy; Gundogan, B. Silva, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Sterling; Jesus
So when you look at the five game on aggregate, the cumulative goal differential is in City’s favor, by a margin of +13 (15-2). With that all said, City should easily run away with this one, and have the result decided pretty early on.
Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk (UCL) FYIs
Kickoff: Nov. 26, 8pm City of Manchester Stadium
Manchester City Team News: go to this link
Pep Guardiola and Player TBC press conference video, quotes: coming tomorrow
Odds: Man City to win 2/9, Draw 6/1, Shakhtar Donetsk to win 13/1
Google result probability: 81% Manchester City win, 13% draw, 6% Shakhtar Donetsk victory
Form Guide: Man City DWWW Shakhtar Donetsk DDWL
Prediction: Manchester City 4, Shakhtar Donetsk 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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