Shakhtar vs Barcelona Prediction: Barca can maintain winning run

Barcelona will look to book their place in the Champions League knockout phase by avoiding defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday evening (17:45) at Volksparkstadion.

The Catalan outfit have been excellent in Group H thus far, topping the section with nine points from three matches, while Shakhtar are third with just three points from their opening three games.

Team News

Shakhtar will be missing Stav Lemkin, Lassina Traore and Ivan Petryak for this contest, while Irakli Azarovi is also expected to be absent.

As for Barca, Sergi Roberto continues to battle a calf problem, and Frenkie de Jong is also a major doubt here due to an ankle issue. However, the Catalonian side could welcome Robert Lewandowski back into the starting XI.

Match Odds

The hosts are 17/2 to claim a crucial victory, while Barcelona are 1/5 to take the three points back to Spain, and the draw is 5/1.

Barca won the reverse fixture 2-1, and a repeat of that scoreline is 15/2.

Barcelona to win to nil @ 11/10

Barcelona have won all three of their matches in the Champions League this season, and I believe that they can make it four wins from four here.

Xavi's side were 2-1 winners the last time these two sides met, but I fancy them to win to nil this time round, as they've kept four clean sheets in their last seven games.

In addition, Barca’s head into this match in great form - their hard-fought 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at the weekend was their eighth in 12 games in Spain’s top flight this season, keeping pace with Girona and Real Madrid at the summit.

Ferran Torres to score anytime @ 6/4

The Spanish winger has scored five goals in 14 outings across all competitions this season - a respectable return.

The former Manchester City man has been sensational for Barca in the Champions League however, bagging twice in three games on the European stage, and he'll fancy his chances once again here. Torres was instrumental in Barca's 2-1 victory over Shakhtar in the reverse fixture, recording a goal and an assist.

Xavi is hoping to have Robert Lewandowski back for this game, who should shoulder some of the goalscoring burden but it could take the Poland international some time to find his shooting boots.

I can see the Ukrainian side struggling to keep the Spaniard quiet here, so I'm backing him to score anytime.

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