UEFA Champions League, Group A

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk – Match preview & Live stream information

UEFA Champions League, Group A sees Real Madrid take on Shakhtar Donetsk this Tuesday.

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Real Madrid should be heading into the match full of confidence after thrashing Espanyol 6-0 in La Liga at the weekend, in a match which saw Cristiano Ronaldo open his account for the season. To add to the team’s confident mood, they are yet to concede a goal in three games under Benitez.

The ten-times winners, Real Madrid, have a formidable recent record in Europe’s elite club competition, having made at least the semi-finals in each of the last five seasons, while they have never failed to progress from the groups and have won 12 of their last 13 matches at this stage. Madrid have won four and drawn two of their six home fixtures with Ukrainian visitors.

Shakhtar themselves come into the tie in decent form having only lost one of their last 13 competitive games after impressively knocking out Fenerbahce at home and Rapid Vienna on their way to the group stage. The Ukrainian giants have long been a tricky opponent in the Champions League, reaching the knockout phase in three of the past five seasons.They will hope that momentum rubs off on their disappointing recent results in the competition proper, as they have won four in 17 and failed to score in seven of their last 12 Champions League games.

Head to head

In last five matches Real Madrid have won 3 and drawn 2 games. Shakhtar Donetsk won 4 last games and draw 1. Overall Real Madrid record against Ukrainian sides is Won 5 Draw 6 Lost 1.
Despite these two sides both being regulars at this stage of Europe’s top club competition, this will be the first meeting between the teams. Shakhtar did come up against one of Real’s La Liga rivals last season, sharing a goalless draw with Athletic Bilbao away from home, while securing a 1-0 win at home.

Match facts

  • This is the first time these sides have met, Real Madrid have lost only once in eight Champions League matches against Ukrainian sides (W3 D4).
  • Real Madrid are playing in the Champions League for the 19th consecutive season, the longest current run. They have always made it out of the group stages and have won the European Cup/Champions League 10 times, a record.
  • Real Madrid have made it at least to the semi-finals in each of the last five Champions League campaigns.
  • Real Madrid have won more games than any other club in the history of the Champions League (124, since 1992/93).
  • Real Madrid have won 12 of their last 13 Champions League group games (D1).
  • Real Madrid have scored in their last 38 Champions League games in the group stages, the last team to keep a clean sheet against the Merengues being Juventus in November 2008 (0-2).
  • Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 62 goals in 63 Champions League games with Real Madrid. He is currently tied with Lionel Messi as the top scorer in the history of the Champions League: 77 goals.
  • Ronaldo also holds the record for most goals in a Champions League campaign (17 in 2013/14).

Team News

The Spanish side have a couple of players sidelined for this match, as Danilo is ruled out with a foot injury, while James Rodriguez is struggling with a thigh injury. Both are expected to miss the next month.
Defender Sergio Ramos has missed training following the win over Espanyol, but it is expected that the spanish international will be involved at the Bernabeu.
Benitez has insisted that he has not yet made a decision about his goalkeeper for this match despite Navas’s unblemished start to the campaign, with some clubs opting for a change between the posts for cup competition.

For the visitors, Facundo Ferreyra is a doubt as he continues to regain his fitness following an injury-hindered loan spell with Newcastle United last season. However, Ivan Ordets could be available after returning to training last week.

Predicted Line-Ups

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos; Isco, Bale, Ronaldo; Benzema
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov; Srna, Kucher, Rakytskiy, Shevchuk; Fred, Stepanenko; Marlos, Teixeira, Taison; Hladkyi

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar