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Champions League, third round. On November 3. Kiev, “NSC Olympic”
Referee – Serdar Gezubbück (Netherlands)
“Miner” 19:55 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Television broadcast – Football 1, OLL.TV, Megogo, Will TV
Unexpectedly for many skeptics, and probably himself, Shakhtar are in first place in the most difficult group in the Champions League after two rounds. The Pitmen showed a daring attacking game against Real Madrid, but then barely managed to maintain a draw against Inter, without creating a single opportunity. Shakhtar are two games ahead of Borussia Mönchengladbach, a club that was initially seen as Shakhtar’s main rival for third place. However, Gladbach also played above expectations in the first two rounds, not losing to Inter and Real. The two-legged duel between Shakhtar and Borussia could be decisive for the teams’ chances of reaching the playoffs.
Shakhtar played their league game one day before Borussia. On Friday the “miners” met almost no resistance from “Mariupol” and threw four balls at the weakened priazovtsy (two of them from the penalty spot). Luis Castro has turned to the rotation, playing with former firsts, reservists and young talents. But it is quite possible that Tyson, who played a full game on Friday, will go out against Borussia, in addition, Tete, Moraes and Matvienko received the minutes of the game against Mariupol, who, in varying degrees, can be called the base candidates in the game with Borussia.
Shakhtar’s opponents played in the league on Saturday night. Borussia’s rivals were RB Leipzig, and Gladbach, of course, was unsuccessful on an easy ride. Borussia beat Leipzig 1-0 thanks to a goal from Austrian winger Hannes Wolf rented from RB. The game against Leipzig took a lot of steam from Borussia, and Marco Rose, unlike Luis Castro, could not afford a full-scale rotation. The four main defenders play practically without substitutions, there are no alternatives to creative centrohav Neuhaus, Hofmann and Thuram did not miss a single match (appearing on the field from the bench sometimes).
A short bench is plagued by Borussia not being able to pass the whole game at the same pace, giving the end of the games. This was the case not only in the games against Real Madrid and Inter, where Borussia conceded decisive goals in more than 90 minutes, but also in the Bundesliga. Marco Rose’s team failed to hold the winning score in matches with Union (1: 1) and Wolfsburg (1: 1), each time conceding a goal in response in the final 15 minutes. If we take the cup match with semi-amatorial “Oberneuland” in the first round of the German Cup, “Borussia” before the match with “Leipzig” this Saturday never managed to keep a clean sheet.
What should not be expected from Borussia this coming Tuesday is the desire to play against Shakhtar in Kiev as number one. It is significant that against both “Real” and “Leipzig” Marco Rose’s team in the first 45 minutes inflicted a single shot at the rival goal. Gladbach knows how to wait for the right moment. Borussia has a very high quality attacking approach, sufficient… After an unconvincing match against Inter, Shakhtar fans are hoping to see football of a different quality than their team, but you shouldn’t embark on adventures either: Borussia shouldn’t be given too much space.
Figures and facts
- Shakhtar and Borussia Mönchengladbach have never met in a European competition, but the German team previously opposed Dynamo Kiev. The teams met in the 2012/13 Champions League playoffs and Kiev advanced to the group round on aggregate (3: 1, 1: 2).
- After losing to Dortmund in the first round of the Bundesliga, Borussia Mönchengladbach are unbeaten in seven straight games in all tournaments.
- Gladbach is unbeaten in European away games in six consecutive games (two wins, four draws).
- The game against Borussia will be the 24th in Shakhtar’s history against German teams. Statistics: eight wins, seven draws, seven losses. The goal difference is 24-34.
- Borussia defender Matthias Ginter faced players from Shakhtar Kovalenko and Marlos in the Ukraine – Germany League of Nations match on 10 October, which ended in the victory of the German team.
Provisional squads (according to UEFA)
Ismaily, Konoplyanka, Dentinho, Fernando are still injured, but they returned to Kovalenko’s general group. Borussia still cannot count on their main defensive player, Denis Zakaria. In addition, the participation in the game of centrals Elvedi and Yanchke, who suffered muscle injuries, is in doubt.
“Miner”: Trubin – Dodo, Bondar, Khocholava, Kornienko – Marcos Antonio, Marlos, Maicon – Tete, Tyson, Solomon
Borussia: Sommer – Liner, Elvedi, Ginter, Bensebaini – Kramer, Neuhaus – Hofmann, Stindle, Turam – Supplication
Prediction of the match Shakhtar – Borussia Monchengladbach
Bookmakers have a slight preference for Borussia. It may be noted that Gladbach is participating in a more competitive championship, and, according to the transfermarkt, has a more expensive squad. However, in the matches with “Real” and “Inter”, the Ukrainian team was also a loser and nevertheless managed to score points. It should be noted that Borussia did not score in a single game of the 2020/21 season, and did not concede in only two. Shakhtar only had a dry win in the championship (2-0 with Olimpik), and Castro’s team did not score against Inter alone. The implicit bet is “both to score” at 1.64. The prognosis is a 1: 1 tie.
This forecast is only one of the possible scenarios for the development of events; does not guarantee a victory.
