Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk predictions: Hosts to prevail in entertaining clash
&w=707&quality=100)
- Serhou Guirassy has scored seven goals in seven Champions League games
- Both teams have scored in nine of Dortmund's last 10 games
- Recommended bet: Borussia Dortmund to win & over 3.5 goals
Successive Champions League defeats either side of the New Year break have probably scuppered Borussia Dortmund's hopes of finishing in the top eight but they are going through to the next stage regardless.
The Bundesliga outfit entertain Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday eight, with the visiting side needing a win and some favourable results around Europe to give them any chance of making the play-off round.
Team news
Following the sacking of Nuri Sahin as Borussia Dortmund boss, U19 coach Mike Tullberg was put in charge of the team for the Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen, which ended 2-2 on Saturday.
Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off after 20 minutes in that contest but may retain his place here. Felix Nmecha was taken off early in the first half with a knock, while Niklas Sule has been sidelined by an ankle injury since early December.
Shakhtar remain on a winter break domestically but they made light of that by defeating Brest 2-0 last week to maintain slim hopes of progression. Striker Eguinaldo went off with a hamstring problem and his place in the side may go to Lassina Traore.
Defender Pedro Henrique was suspended for the win over Brest but is available to play here.
The stats
&w=707&quality=100)
Both teams have scored in nine of Dortmund's last 10 games.
Serhou Guirassy has scored seven goals in seven Champions League games and hit the net for Dortmund at the weekend.
These teams have met four times previously, with Dortmund winning three times and drawing once.
Shakhtar faced German opposition on matchday six, losing 5-1 against Bayern Munich in Gelsenkirchen.
Shakhtar have won four of their last six designated away games against German clubs.
Verdict
Dortmund are through to the first knockout round but a passage to the last-16 looks improbable, even with a win here.
Shakhtar kept their slim hopes alive by defeating Brest last week but even if they upset the odds to win here, which is a 13/2 chance with LiveScore Bet, they will require major favours from elsewhere to climb into the top 24.
Dortmund's stand-in boss Tullberg would have had mixed emotions after the 2-2 with Werder Bremen on Saturday. His side went down to 10 men in the first half before going 2-0 ahead just after the break.
Serhou Guirassy scored one and was key in the other goal and is a massive threat spearheading the Dortmund attack.
Both teams have scored in nine of Dortmund's last 10 games and an entertaining tussle is forecast at Signal Iduna Park, one that ultimately the hosts should come out on the right side of.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
