MX23RW : Friday, December 13 16:41:24| >> :120:7640:7640:
[monks data]
Athletic Bilbao logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 17, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Shakhtar Donetsk

0-0

FT

Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

Sports Mole looks ahead to Athletic Bilbao's opening Champions League group-stage encounter against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

Champions League group football will be played at the new San Mames stadium for the first time on Wednesday evening when Athletic Bilbao host Shakhtar Donetsk.

On paper at least. it appears to be a daunting trip for the Ukrainian side because Bilbao have lost just one of their last 15 home European encounters, eight of which have been won.

However, the away side can take solace from the fact that they have won six of their last seven opening group fixtures in European competition.

In terms of team selection, Athletic head coach Ernesto Valverde has no major injury concerns. Mikel San Jose and Ibai Gomez were both on the bench for the weekend's trip to Barcelona, but they could return to the starting lineup for the visit of Shakhtar.

Aside from that, Aritz Aduriz is expected to be Athletic's main focal point in attack, with Iker Muniain offering support from a wide position.

As for Shakhtar, a number of the Brazilian contingent at Mircea Lucescu's disposal, including Alex Teixeira, Douglas Costa, Luiz Adriano and Taison, should all start.

Shakhtar have made eight previous trips to Spain, but have only won on two occasions.

Recent form

Athletic: DLWWL

Shakhtar: WWWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Athletic: Iraizoz; San Jose, Laporte, Gurpegi, Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Rico, Gomez; Susaeta, Muniain, Aduriz

Shakhtar: Kanibolotskiy; Srna, Ordets, Krivtsov, Azevedo; Stepanenko, Fernando; Taison, Teixeira, Costa; Adriano

Sports Mole says: 1-0


ID:176945: cacheID:176945:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4039:
Written by
Liam Apicella
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Viktoria Plzen's Stanislav Tecl is congratulated by teammates after scoring against Shakhtar Donetsk during their Europa League match on February 20, 2014
Read Next:
Shakhtar held by Plzen
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!