Shakhtar Donetsk welcome Sevilla to the Arena Lviv on Thursday night in their momentous Europa League semi-final first leg with the Spanish outfit.
Shakhtar Donetsk Betting News
Shakhtar Donetsk will hope to cement themselves strongly in this Europa League semi-final at their home-from-home at the Arena Lviv, knowing their opponents propensity to play poorly away from home this season.
Shakhtar progressed passed FC Braga in the quarter-finals, winning 5-1 on aggregate, while they oversaw the challenge of Lazio in the round of 16. Domestically Shakhtar are 2nd in the Ukrainian Premier League, an eye-watering 10 points below leaders Dynamo Kiev. Shakhtar’s 21 games against Spanish sides have ended W4 D5 L12 (W2 D3 L5 at home – W2 D2 L6 in Spain). Those games include a 1-0 loss to FC Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.
Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu will be without the suspended Fred and injured Brazilian Márcio Azevedo.
Sevilla Betting News
Sevilla go into Thursday’s match knowing in general it is better to play second-legs at home, so they should hold at least some semblance of confidence ahead of the tie. What lies in wait though is the immediate issue of a match away from the Pizjuan stadium. Let’s not forget in La Liga Sevilla have failed to win one league game out of 17 matches this campaign.
They have often relied on their sublime home form, having won 14 of their 18 home league matches this season. Last time out in the Europa League Sevilla overcame the task of Athletic Club in the quarter-finals, having required penalties to progress.
Sevilla manager Unai Emery will be without both Ever Banega and Benoît Trémoulinas while defende Rami remains a doubt.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sevilla Match Prediction
Of the eight teams that parachuted in from the UEFA Champions League group stage, just Shakhtar and Sevilla remain in contention.
Sevilla’s away record means any chance of victory here remains mightily slim. Shakhtar are from at their best, but the Spanish outfit have lost to far worst teams in Spain this season. A victory for the home side is expected here, but don’t rule out an away goal for Emery’s men.
