Manchester City fancied to claim crucial Champions League success

Champions League
BT Sport, 8pm Wednesday

Shakhtar have never lost at home to English opposition but Manchester City can change that statistic when the sides meet in Kharkiv.

City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham have all failed to lower Shakhtar's colours and even since the switch from war-torn Donetsk the Ukrainians pride themselves on being tough to crack.

Celta Vigo, in the 2016-17 Europa League, are the only side to beat Shakhtar's in the last 15 home European games, with City going down 2-1 in Kharkiv ten months ago.

However, that was a very different situation as City had already wrapped up top spot in their Champions League group last year and headed east with a weakened squad with two eyes on the forthcoming Manchester derby.

Eliaquim Mangala, Tosin Adarabioyo, Yaya Toure and Phil Foden were among those in the starting 11 for the last meeting whereas this time Pep Guardiola surely has to go strong following the shock matchday one defeat at home to Lyon.

City also have the luxury of being off domestic action until Monday's trip to Tottenham and the fully focused Premier League champions should have too much quality for Shakhtar in the final third.

Guardiola's side scored five against Burnley on Saturday with five different scorers despite Raheem Sterling being given the afternoon off, while Kevin De Bruyne made his return from injury from the bench as City romped to maximum points.

Whether it is De Bruyne, David Silva or Bernardo Silva through the middle, or the wing options of Riyad Mahrez, Sterling or Leroy Sane there is so much creativity supplying Sergio Aguero, who has scored in four of his last five matches.

Shakhtar shipped twice to both Hoffenheim and Lyon and appear to be missing the control offered to them by Fred in midfield after the Brazilian joined Manchester United in the summer.

New recruit Maycon's free kick earned Shakhtar maximum points on Friday as they beat Desna Chernihiv 1-0 to go 11 matches unbeaten but Paulo Fonseca's current squad may not be quite up to the standard of recent editions.

Goals, however, are not usually a problem and there could be a consolation to be had from the outsiders given Shakhtar have scored at least twice in their last eight Champions League home matches.

Junior Moraes has bagged 12 times in 15 matches for the Pitmen since arriving from Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar have shown plenty of attacking intent in their two 2-2 Champions League draws this term.

Recommendation
Man City to win and both teams to score
1pt 6-4 general

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Shakhtar
Taison, Marlos and Ivan Ordets are ruled out for Shakhtar.

Man City
Kyle Walker returns but Fabian Delph, Ilkay Gundogan, Danilo, Claudio Bravo and Eliaquim Mangala have not travelled because of injury.

Key stat
Shakhtar have not kept a clean sheet in their last six home European matches.

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