Shakhtar v Hoffenheim: Home win looks likely

Shakhtar 2.04 v Hoffenheim 3.90; The Draw 3.80
Wednesday 19 September, 17:55
Live on BT Sport 1

Experienced Shakhtar take on Champions League newbies

Manchester City are the hot favourites to win Group F, but second place is very much up for grabs, with Shakhtar and Hoffenheim, along with Lyon, all in with a chance of making the knockout stages.

Of these two teams it is Shakhtar that are further into their season and in the better form. They have played eight games in the Ukranian Premier League, winning seven and each of the last five. Shakhtar should be confident of progressing to the last-16, having reached that stage last season when drawn alongside Manchester City, when they outperformed Napoli to take second place.

This is Hoffenheim's first experience of the Champions League group stage, with the team losing in the play-offs to the eventual finalists Liverpool last season. In Julian Nagelsmannthey have one of the brightest young coaches in football, who has delivered top four finishes in both of his two full seasons in charge of the club.

Shakhtar have superb home record in Champions League

Hoffenheim are only three games into the Bundesliga season, but they've already lost both of their away games, with Bayern Munich and Fortuna Dusseldorf inflicting defeats. Given this fact, Shakhtar's superior European experience and their advantage of having more games under their belt, the price for the home win might prove to be quite generous.

Shakhtar won all four of their home Champions League games last season, with their scalps including such notable names as Manchester City, Napoli and Roma. Back the 2.04 for Shakhtar to continue this run with a home win.

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Back Shakhtar to beat Hoffenheim at 2.04