Manchester City-Shakhtar Donetsk Preview
After failing to secure top spot in Group C following the 1-1 draw with Atalanta earlier this month, Manchester City once again have the chance to do so on Tuesday—this time against Shakhtar.
Manchester City’s qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the seventh straight season seemed to be all but a formality when the draw was announced. With a soft draw, even given the team’s defensive issues, City have cruised to this point and are unbeaten in all four matches so far and now have the chance to win the group against perennial Ukrainian opposition Shakhtar.
City have played Shakhtar in each of the last three Champions League group stages, and opened up this year’s European campaign with a 3-0 win in Ukraine. City have recovered their form after the international break, picking up a much-needed victory against Premier League rivals Chelsea, and look full value to go on and seal qualification in midweek at the Etihad.
The loss of talisman Sergio Agüero, who will miss the Manchester Derby, will be felt, but Gabriel Jesus will have the opportunity to recover a bit of form in this match. The Brazilian missed a crucial penalty against Atalanta before repeating the favor for his nation against Argentina, with both missing the mark completely.
More from Game preview
- Penalty miss from Haaland and later scored, late equalizer from Sheffield and final moment from Rodri extend City’s perfect start in the Premier League
- Manchester City vs Manchester United FA Cup Final: Predicted Lineup for City
- Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Predicted Lineups
- Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: Predicted lineup for Manchester City
- Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: The 3 Keys to Victory
City are off to a flying start in Europe, but their season will be defined by what comes in the latter stages of this competition, especially given the current state of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola needs to take this opportunity to really get his side in a European spirit, as it can be an escape route from domestic struggles, as evidenced by Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning teams of the past.
If City want to reach those heights, they will need to feel right at home in massive continental games, and there is no better way to do that than to establish a tone and rhythm against inferior opposition. If the Blues can get the win and qualify with a match to spare, it will afford some much-needed rest for veterans and experience for younger players in the final group game against Dinamo Zagreb.
This will be a match in which the Citizens will be expected to dominate proceedings, but the key will be to remain focused and deliver in front of the home supporters.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk