Champions League
2013-02-13 - Shakhtar Donetsk vs Borussia Dortmund
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Wednesday 13 February 2013 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Shakhtar Donetsk
While most of the attention will be on the big game taking place in Spain, Shakhtar Donetsk will hope they can get back into the Quarter Finals of the Champions League for only the second time in the sides history. Shakhtar have proven themselves already in the competition having moved through from a tough Group and any visiting team to the Ukraine is in for a tough game.
While they do have a big lead in the Ukrainian domestic League, one problem for sides from the Ukraine and Russia is that the Champions League starts again while they are still on a Winter break. This is the first competitive game Shakhtar Donetsk will have played since early December in the final Champions League Group game, although they should be ready to go with the domestic League starting again this weekend too.
Shakhtar Donetsk would be a surprise name this Second Round considering they were placed with Chelsea and Juventus in the Group stage of the competition. However, they won 2 of their 3 Group games at home and would have topped the Group if they had avoided defeat against Juventus in their final home game of the Group stage. Shakhtar have actually won just 2 of their last 7 home games in the Champions League and have been defeated 3 times.
The side have been playing a lot of friendly matches over the last six weeks and have won 6 of 7, although losing their last friendly game. Shakhtar had actually won 16 straight home games in competitive football through all competitions before their 0-1 loss to Juventus in their last one here.
The big absentee for the home side will be Willian, who was a star in the Group stage, as he was sold to Zenit in the transfer window. Olexandr Kucher is suspended for this game.
Borussia Dortmund
One of the highlights in the Group stage of the Champions League were Borussia Dortmund whose performances have seen them ranked as one of the leading contenders to win this competition. Winning the Bundesliga in back to back seasons should have given notice to their quality, but a poor Champions League run last season perhaps had them under-estimated coming into this season.
While Dortmund are the back to back winners of the German League title, they already look like conceding that trophy to Bayern Munich with 15 points separating the two sides. With 13 games left to play in the Bundesliga, it may already mean that Jurgen Klopp is focusing his real efforts on bringing back the Champions League trophy for the second time in the clubs history and first time in 16 years.
As I mentioned, Borussia Dortmund were one of the big surprises in the Group stage for the manner in which they performed and the results they obtained. It says a lot that they finished on top in a Group containing Real Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City, especially as they were unbeaten in the section. Dortmund won 1 and drew 2 of their away games in the section, although it was a big improvement on last season when Dortmund lost all 3 away games in the Group. The side have won 2 of their last 9 away games in the Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund had won 5 games in a row in all competitions before being stunned 1-4 at home by Hamburg in their last game. They are unbeaten in their last 13 away games in all competitions since losing to the same Hamburg side back in September and Dortmund have won 8 of those games.
Marcel Schmelzer and Nevin Subotic should both be available for Dortmund and boost a defence that conceded 4 goals in their last game. Kevin Grosskreutz has been ruled out.
Head to Head
This will be the second competitive European tie between the teams, the first coming in a Champions League Qualifying Round back in 2001/02.
On that occasion, Borussia Dortmund won both legs, including a 0-2 win in Donetsk.
Prediction
The layers are having a hard time to get a read on this first leg between two sides that both have impressed in the Group stage of the Champions League in their own way.
Shakhtar's home record, despite defeat in their last competitive game here, has been very impressive, although that hasn't always transferred to the Champions League.
By the same token, Borussia Dortmund have been a very tough prospect to play when they visit as their pace and counter attacking ability can be used to maximum effect.
I think Dortmund are the right call to grab a vital away win that will give them one foot into the Quarter Final. They have won 3 straight away games coming into this one and I think they would have been a lot shorter if it wasn't for two late goals by Manchester City and Real Madrid that denied them wins at those two grounds in the Group.
The draw is also a major player in this one, but the odds are big enough for me to have a small interest in the German side to make it back to back away wins in this competition, although this is likely to be a tight contest.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
