In a showdown of Champions League Group H strugglers, Royal Antwerp and Shakhtar Donetsk face off in an early basement battle at Bosuilstadion.
Antwerp, recovering from a crushing defeat by Barcelona, aims to bolster their attack against Shakhtar, who suffered a 3-1 loss to Porto.
Here’s a comprehensive preview of this crucial match and predicted lineups for both teams.
Match Preview
Due to ongoing renovations at Camp Nou, Antwerp faced Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in their inaugural Champions League group-stage match.
Joao Felix, Robert Lewandowski, and an unfortunate own goal by Jelle Bataille saw Antwerp face a European baptism of fire, succumbing to a 5-0 defeat.
Since then, Antwerp has been steady but unspectacular in the Jupiler Pro League, recording three successive goalless draws.
The team’s attacking deficiencies must be rectified to secure success in their European adventure.
On the other side, Shakhtar faced Porto at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.
Porto’s dominant first-half performance led to a 3-1 victory, marking the beginning of a patchy run of form for Shakhtar.
Despite their recent struggles, they have managed to score consistently in their competitive contests.
Team News
Injuries have hit Antwerp hard, with several defenders sidelined. Jacob Ondrejka, the 18-year-old talent, will be under scrutiny amid reported interest from Manchester United and Barcelona.
Shakhtar faces defensive challenges as well, with Stav Lemkin nursing an injury and Lassina Traore ruled out due to tendon trouble.
Mykola Matvienko’s return to fitness could bolster the team’s defense.
Possible Starting Lineups
Royal Antwerp:
Butez;
Bataille, Alderweireld, Coulibaly, Wijndal;
Vermeeren, Keita;
Kerk, Ekkelenkamp, Muja;
Janssen
Shakhtar Donetsk:
Riznyk;
Konoplya, Rakitskyi, Matvienko, Azarovi;
Sudakov, Stepanenko, Bondarenko;
Zubkov, Kelsey, Sikan
Match Prediction
Antwerp’s recent defensive displays may not be enough to stop Shakhtar, who possess attacking prowess.
Despite a sturdy defense, Antwerp might struggle to keep Shakhtar at bay, and Shakhtar is likely to clinch a narrow victory.
Prediction: Royal Antwerp 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk