Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona Tips: No UCL cakewalk for Barca

• Shakhtar only lost 2-1 in Barcelona last time out

• Rising star Sudakov good for shots

• Back 7/2 Bet Builder in UCL showdown

Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona
Tuesday 7 November, 17:45
Live on TNT Sports 3

Shakhtar produced a decent-enough display in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago, only losing 2-1, and can stay competitive again in this rematch.

That contest in Montjuic was new boss Marino Pusic's first in charge and he seems happier now he's had more time to work with his new charges.

Leg 1: Shakhtar (+2) on the handicap

Shakhtar claimed a notable 1-0 win away to Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian League on Friday and so come into this contest with confidence on the up, knowing they will be top of their domestic pile if they win their games in hand.

Barca, meanwhile, sit third in Spain. They responded to their defeat in the El Clasico by beating Real Sociedad 1-0 at the weekend, a third away win, although they have had their problems on the road.

They've failed to win three of their six away games in La Liga, while a look at their record on their travels in this competition since Lionel Messi's departure does not make for good reading.

They've lost four of their seven games and only once have they won by more than a single goal.

With this in mind, siding with Shakhtar in the handicap market, where they get a two-goal start, looks to have potential.

They covered this in the reverse fixture and, as already explained, six of Barca's seven UCL opponents have managed it when hosting them in the past couple of years.

The worry is that Shakhtar will be missing two of their regulars in the starting XI from a fortnight ago - Yukhym Konoplya is suspended and midfielder Artem Bondarenko injured.

That said, Barca will also be missing Gavi (banned), while star striker Robert Lewandowski is only just back form an ankle injury and has failed to score in his last five appearances.

Leg 2: Heorhii Sudakov 2+ shots

The other bet I like comes in the shots market where Heorhii Sudakov looks big for 2+ shots at odds-against.

He managed this two weeks ago and also hit three shots when Shakhtar faced Porto in Hamburg in their last 'home' Champions League match.

Sudakov loves to make runs from deep, as he showed when scoring in Barcelona, and he was also a threat in Ukraine's recent World Cup qualifiers, having four shots in each of their games against North Macedonia and Malta.

Put the two into a Bet Builder and you get a price of 7/24.50 which looks worth a go.

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