Borussia Dortmund will be eager to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16 when they face Shakhtar Donetsk at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday. Despite their disappointing 2-1 loss to Bologna on January 21, Dortmund have already secured their spot in the playoffs, sitting 14th in their group with 12 points. However, they are still hoping to clinch that coveted automatic qualification spot for the knockout stages.
Shakhtar Donetsk, on the other hand, are in 27th place with just seven points and face an uphill battle to progress to the round of 16. They come into this fixture after a 2-0 victory against Brest in the Champions League on January 22, but their form has been shaky in recent weeks. With only two wins in their last eight Champions League outings and a poor away record, Shakhtar will be aiming to turn things around in Dortmund.
Dortmund’s recent form has been concerning, with a winless streak in their last five home matches, but they will look to bounce back under the temporary management of Mike Tullberg, who oversaw a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The hosts will be without midfielder Felix Nmecha and centre-back Niklas Sule, but defensive reinforcements like Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton should step up.
Shakhtar’s defensive woes are evident, having conceded eight goals in their last two European matches, and they will need to improve to secure a crucial victory. They are missing key attacker Eguinaldo, so Lassina Traore may lead the line for them in Dortmund.
With both teams struggling for consistency, expect a hard-fought match at Signal Iduna Park. While Dortmund have the home advantage, Shakhtar will be motivated to fight for their slim chance at qualifying for the knockout stage. This game could end in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, as both teams may find it difficult to overcome each other given their current forms.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Shakhtar Donetsk - Key Stats and Predictions:
- Dortmund’s home form: Winless in their last five Champions League home matches (3 draws, 2 losses).
- Shakhtar’s away form: Lost 3 of their last 4 Champions League away matches.
- Dortmund’s attacking strength: 19 goals scored in the group stage, second only to Barcelona.
- Shakhtar’s defensive struggles: Conceded 8 goals in their last 2 Champions League matches.
- Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Shakhtar Donetsk.
