Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Real Madrid – Champions League, December 1, 2020

Shakhtar Donetsk will be aiming to reproduce their Macthday 1 heroics when Real Madrid visits Ukraine on Tuesday, December 1.

Luis Castro’s side secured a shock 3-2 victory over the Spanish champions in the reverse fixture, although claiming back-to-back Champions League wins over Los Blancos won’t be easy.

I assess the bookmakers’ odds before sharing my Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Real Madrid prediction and betting pick.

As you can see, 10bet clearly doesn’t think that Shakhtar (7.75) will be able to replicate their previous performance against Real Madrid (1.35) on Tuesday.

We all know that the gulf between these two sides is vast. However, given that Castro’s men are playing on home soil this time around, the sky-high price for the draw (5.75) does look tempting.

I discuss both teams’ prospects below.

It’s safe to say that the Ukrainians shocked everyone – and themselves – on Matchday 1. With a host of first-team regulars sidelined, Shakhtar raced into a 3-0 lead before half-time. Real Madrid rallied after the break, yet Catro’s side was able to weather the storm and hold on to secure a famous victory.

But it’s been all downhill since then.

Granted, Shakhtar managed to clinch a decent goalless draw with Inter Milan on Matchday 2. But successive thrashings at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach have significantly damaged the club’s chance of advancing to the knockout stages.

Following a 6-0 home defeat, Shakhtar lost 4-0 in Germany. Castro’s men enjoyed the majority of possession on both occasions, yet they failed to make it count. The Ukrainians now sit third in Group B – three points behind second-place Real Madrid and four points behind frontrunners Gladbach.

Shakhtar remains unbeaten in domestic competition this season, although that is to be expected. The team has claimed six wins in the Ukrainian Premier League, but there have also been an unusually high number of draws (five).

It is no secret that Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign began in disappointing fashion. But having picked up two wins and a draw since Matchday 1’s disaster, Zinedine Zidane’s men are now in a strong position to qualify for the Round of 16.

Los Blancos was held to a 2-2 draw by Gladbach on Matchday 2, before clinching consecutive victories over Inter Milan. Rodrygo scored the winning goal as Real sealed a 3-2 home win against the Italians, with Eden Hazard shining in a 2-0 away victory for the Spanish side.

However, Los Blancos heads into Tuesday’s clash on the back of a surprise 2-1 defeat to Alaves. In fact, a three-game winless run in La Liga has seen Real drop to fourth in Spain’s top-flight – seven points behind leaders Real Sociedad.

Needless to say, Zidane’s men will be hoping to leave their domestic form at home and pick up where they left off in Europe.

Nobody expected Shakhtar to upset the odds on Matchday 1, yet the Ukrainians produced one of the biggest Champions League shocks in recent years. Unfortunately, I can’t see Castro’s side doing it again.

Real’s squad may be blighted by multiple injuries, but I’m expecting the La Liga champions to come out on top in Ukraine. Zidane’s men have upped their UCL game of late, meaning Shakhtar is likely to lose this one.