Preview: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. FC Nordsjaelland

Shakhtar Donetsk welcome the Danish champions FC Nordsjaelland to the Donbass Arena on Wednesday in their opening Champions League Group E clash.

The Ukrainian outfit failed to make it through the group stages of the competition last season, with their most successful campaign coming two years ago when they reached the quarter-finals.

They have managed to win their last 19 top-flight matches in a row, however, and have been branded as the dark horses of the competition. Meanwhile, Nordsjaelland secured the Danish title for the first time last season, but no member of their squad has ever appeared in the Champions League.

Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu is expected to recall Razvan Rat and Darijo Srna to his team, while Chelsea target Willian will operate as an attacking midfielder. Nordsjaelland, meanwhile, have no fresh injury worries and will look to Joshua John to lead their line.

Recent form:

Shakhtar Donetsk: WLLDD Nordsjaelland: LLDLL

Possible lineups:

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov; Rat, Chygrynskiy, Rakitskiy, Srna; Stepanenko, Fernandinho; Willian, Teixeira, Douglas Costa; Mkhitaryan

Nordsjaelland: Hansen; Mtiliga, Okore, Runje, Parkhurst; Stockholm, Adu, Christensen; Lorentzen, Beckmann, John

Sports Mole says: 3-1