Shakhtar Donetsk v Young Boys: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Shakhtar Donetsk and Young Boys have made underwhelming starts in the UEFA Champions League main draw which means the pressure will be on when they meet in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday.

Ukrainian champions Shakhtar have taken just one point from their opening three matches, suffering back-to-back defeats to Atalanta and Arsenal after drawing, rather fortuitously, with Bologna on Matchday One.

Things have gone even worse for Young Boys, as they are yet to pick up a point, although they did come agonisingly close against Inter Milan last time out, conceding a 93rd-minute Marcus Thuram goal to lose 1-0.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Young Boys betting tips and predictions

Shakhtar Donetsk to win - 1/1

It has been a difficult start to the season for both of these sides, as not only are they struggling in Europe, but they are also off the pace in their respective domestic leagues.

Shakhtar rather surprisingly lost two of their opening four matches in the Ukrainian Premier League and they currently sit third in the standings, six points behind early pacesetters Dynamo Kyiv and Oleksandria.

However, there have been signs over recent weeks that Marino Pusic's side are finding their feet, as they have taken 17 points from the last 21 available domestically.

They also pushed Arsenal all the way in their last European fixture, only being edged out 1-0 by the Gunners in north London.

That will give Shakhtar plenty of belief heading into this game where they will be facing a Young Boys side who are just one off the bottom of the UEFA Champions League standings, while they are languishing down in 10th in the Swiss Super League.

Manager Patrick Rahmen was relieved of his duties last month following that poor start, but there hasn't been a great uplift since, with caretaker boss Joel Magnin overseeing two wins and two defeats from his five matches in charge.

Magnin did get an improved performance from his side against Inter, but they have taken just one point from domestic games against the top two in the Swiss Super League - FC Zurich and Lugano - which underlines they are off the pace when it comes to facing teams of a higher quality.

Shakhtar are, it would seem, a better side than either Zurich or Lugano, so the Ukrainians look like favourites to pick up their first victory of the league phase on Wednesday.

Under 2.5 goals - 11/10

Only four sides are yet to score in the UEFA Champions League main draw this season, Salzburg and Bologna are two of those teams, while the other two will be involved in this game.

Shakhtar are free-scoring domestically - no team has notched more goals in the Ukrainian Premier League this season - but their lack of firepower in Europe is not a new thing, as they have only scored more than once in three of their last 21 UEFA Champions League games.

One goal may be all that is required on Wednesday though, as Young Boys are not only struggling for attacking thrust in Europe, but also domestically, particularly away from home, as they have failed to net in each of their last three road fixtures in the Swiss Super League.

These two sides have met twice before in the UEFA Champions League and both clashes went under the 2.5 goal mark, that is certainly a pattern that can continue this midweek.

Shakhtar Donetsk under 4.5 shots on target - 10/11

It is not difficult to see why Shakhtar have not scored in Europe this season, as they are not having enough attempts on goal.

Only bottom of the table Slovan Bratislava have had fewer shots in this season's UEFA Champions League than Shakhtar's total of 19, while no team has had less efforts on target than the Ukrainian champions.

In three matches in this season's competition, Shakhtar have managed a poultry two shots on target, which is the lowest amount of any team at this stage of a UEFA Champions League campaign for almost a decade.

While they should be afforded more opportunities in this game then they were against Bologna, Atalanta and Arsenal, it is still hard to see Shakhtar reversing their shot-shy nature too dramatically.

Therefore, backing them to have four or less efforts on target on Wednesday could be the way to play it.

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Shakhtar Donetsk v Young Boys odds

Shakhtar Donetsk - 1/1
Draw - 5/2
Young Boys - 27/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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