Celtic v Shakhtar Donetsk predictions: Bhoys to go for broke

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Celtic v Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm

Best bets

Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals
2pts 21-20 BoyleSports

Mykhaylo Mudryk first scorer
0.5pts each-way 20-1 bet365

Team news

Celtic
Carl Starfelt, Stephen Welsh and Callum McGregor are ruled out. David Turnbull and Jota are doubts.

Shakhtar Donetsk
Wide man Marian Shved and defender Viktor Kornienko are out and Yukhym Konoplya is a doubt.

Preview

You can't knock Celtic's endeavour in this season's Champions League but they have lacked accuracy, a flaw which has cost them any chance of a place in the last 16.

Only nine other sides in the group stage have fired off more shots than the Glasgow giants, who are averaging 13.5 efforts per game. Unfortunately, all those shots have produced just two goals and one point, and they have no more than a remote chance of finishing third and being parachuted into the Europa League.

To get there they are going to have to see off Shakhtar Donetsk at Parkhead on Tuesday and snap a run of seven straight home losses in the group stage.

They drew 1-1 against Shakhtar in Poland, but it’s the Miners who are in the mix for a last-16 berth having registered a magnificent 4-1 win at Leipzig on the opening night and held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in Warsaw last time out.

They are second in the Ukrainian Premier League, still unbeaten in that competition, and, like Celtic, score plenty of goals in a domestic competition which doesn't run deep with quality.

Their line-up will feature a host of Ukraine internationals, among them Mykhaylo Mudryk, who looks a fair price at 20-1 to score first. The 21-year-old has scored five goals this term, including two in the Champions League, and is a class act.

Celtic have no choice but to go for it and if players such as Kyogo Furuhashi can get their act together then the Bhoys can find the net. We know they are creating chances and they have smashed in 14 goals in three matches since their last Champions League tie.

Twelve of Celtic's last 16 competitive matches have produced over 2.5 goals, six of Shakhtar's last eight have done likewise, and given the hosts are unlikely to sit back, backing goals at both ends looks wise.

Key stat

Celtic have lost their last seven Champions League group-stage home matches.

Inside info

Celtic

Penalty taker Josip Juranovic/Georgios Giakoumakis
Assist ace Aaron Mooy
Set-piece aerial threat Cameron Carter-Vickers
Card magnet Mortiz Jenz