Can Atalanta pull of a UCL group stage miracle?
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Atalanta Bergamo - 11/12/2019
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Atalanta are bottom of Champions League Group C but still have a chance to go through to the knockout round for the first time ever.
The Italian club will travel to Ukraine on Wednesday night to face off with Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainians are just two points ahead of Atalanta which means a loss to the Italians and a Dinamo Zagreb loss or draw with Manchester City, and Gian Piero Gasperini’s team will go through.
Shakhtar Donetsk are on the verge of qualifying as well and a win would see them through to the last 16. A draw with Atalanta would mean Shakhtar Donetsk are at the mercy of Manchester City and Dinamo Zagreb.
After beating Atalanta in their previous meeting, Shakhtar Donetsk have drawn three consecutive matches in Group C. Matchday 5 saw Shakhtar Donetsk go to the Etihad Stadium and draw 1-1 with Manchester City. Manor Solomon’s 69th-minute strike gave Shakhtar Donetsk a share of the spoils.
Atalanta have had a torrid time in their maiden Champions League voyage. However, they have picked up four points from their last six in the competition. Matchday 5 saw Atalanta pull off a big 2-0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Shakhtar Donetsk are in fantastic form. They have not lost a match in all competitions since 18 September when Manchester City defeated them in the Champions League.
Manager Luis Castro has led Shakhtar Donetsk on a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions. They defeated rival Olimpik Donetsk 3-0 at the weekend.
Atalanta are also in good form winners of their last three games in all competitions. They came from behind at the weekend to defeat Hellas Verona in Serie A 3-2.
Ruslan Malinovsky, Luis Muriel, and Berat Djimsiti were all on target. The winning goal came in the 90th minute to put the Bergamo bunch in the top six and set up this tasty tie.
Shakhtar Donetsk will have a huge boost as both Taison and Marlos will return from injury and suspension respectively. The duo has combined for 14 goals but none of those have come in the Champions League.
Gasperini won’t have his strongest squad as Martin de Roon, Duvan Zapata, and Josip Ilicic are all injured. Only Zapata is currently ruled out in advance. Meanwhile, Rafael Toloi is suspended.
Shakhtar Donetsk are regulars in the Champions League and know what is expected to get through. They will get past a plucky Atalanta at home as both teams score and over 2.5 goals go into the back of the nets.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UCL
422830
1
3 - 1
2.69
1°
2.57
2.57
3.95
2.55
1
1
-1
0 - 3(0 - 0)
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