Champions League: Manchester City travel to Shakhtar for important points

Pep’s Man City really know what it is to be a Premier League club in recent years. However, handling the pressures of Champions League football has been their ultimate weakness.

The Citizen’s enjoy their second game on the road when they play Shakhtar Donetsk at the Metalist Oblast Sports Complex, later this evening. Second place versus third place in a match where all the points are important to both participants.

City’s opening to the UCL was a dismal one. At the Etihad Lyon showed they are not to be messed with and cemented first place in Group F for the time being. Their match against Hoffenheim will be viewed upon closely by Pep Guardiola and Miguel Cardoso.

The Blues are on that shark trip

Manchester City appear to be almost peaking again, that’s if they ever looked like they dropped in form. City has scored 15 goals in their last five Premier League outing, three in their last two Champions League games – totalling 21 goals across all competitions (including the Carabao Cup).

Losing only to Lyon in the UCL, Pep’s side remain stock solid and one game away from being unbeaten this season across all games. What makes matter worse for all looking in… Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is back and ready for selection.

He’s been waiting for a good time on the sideline, hungry to play is an understatement in this case. Kyle Walker has travelled with the team and could be ready for a start, as he was left out in the Burnley thumping. The team selection gives us enough evidence, Pep has learnt from the defeat at home in first Champions League fixture.

Shakhtar Donetsk must be tight

The hosts tonight suffered two draws and managed only a point a game for their efforts. They have struggled to keep things clean at the back and have only conducted one clean sheet in the last six games – across all competitions.

A record of six goals conceded in six games held by the home side, is not a stat you can boast about when heading into a fixture with Pep’s boys. Quality difference between the two, complete contrast from each other. The quality of leagues also plays a part, however, they managed an important draw against Lyon on their travels last time out.

A tight defence is needed more than a lethal attack. They have got all the players to take the game to City, but they(Man City) need only half a chance to come away with the goods. And the MOST IMPORTANT factor of them all, the last time this duo met, they both shared a win and a loss, home and away.

They, too named also named a strong team as they look to go far in a competition they do fairly well in.

Score prediction
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Manchester City