Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk Odds & Preview – Champions League Group Stage Matchday 4
By Sam Cox in Soccer News
Published:
- Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk matchup at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, November, 3rd
- Los Blancos are top of Group D despite their shock defeat to FC Sheriff on Matchday 2
- Read below for the latest Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk odds, betting preview and a prediction
Real Madrid is heavily favored for the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, November, 3rd. Matchday 4 of the Champions League Group Stage is pivotal for both clubs. Real can take a massive step towards the knockout rounds with a victory, while it’s a must-win for Shakhtar, who reside bottom of the group with just one point from their first three matches.
Los Blancos hammered Shakhtar 5-0 when these sides met a couple of weeks ago. Shakhtar have put together a run of three consecutive wins domestically since then, and despite the Matchday 3 defeat, they have reason to carry confidence into this fixture, having done the double over Real Madrid in the group stage last season.
Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk | RMA -1.5 (-155) | SHK +1.5 (+135) | RMA -450 | SHK +1100 | DRAW +600 | Ov 3 (-130) | Un 3 (+110) |
Odds as of Nov 2 at DraftKings
Team News
Real Madrid is without several attacking options for Wednesday’s match. The result could be a rare start for Eden Hazard.
Isco, Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio are all ruled out. Rodrygo limped off at the weekend and won’t be risked for this one. Karim Benzema sat out the win over Elche and is listed as a doubt.
9 goals for @Benzema, 7 for @vinijr. 🔥
Only 6 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 have outscored the @realmadriden pair so far this season. 🤯#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/zm1QQd7B9Z
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) November 1, 2021
Vinicius Jr is likely the only forward from the 5-0 win who will start on Matchday 4. This Real Madrid attack is considerably less intimidating without Benzema and Rodrygo. Hazard has just one assist and no goals in over 400 minutes of La Liga and Champions League action this term.
Shakhtar is missing plenty of attacking talent, too. Pedrinho, Lassina Traore and Yevhen Konoplyanka are ruled out for the match in the Spanish capital. The Ukrainian side have scored 15 goals in their last four domestic matches, but they are yet to find the net in the Champions League.
Shakhtar’s Misfortune
As ever in the Champions League Group Stage, we’re dealing with small samples, but the statistics so far suggest Shakhtar has been unlucky. They have conceded seven and not scored despite generating 2.6 expected goals and conceding just 4.6 xG.
🇺🇦 Kyiv ✈ Madrid 🇪🇸
A video about Shakhtar's trip to Spain for the @ChampionsLeague super match vs Real Madrid 🔥 #Shakhtar #UCL #RealMadridShakhtar pic.twitter.com/QQLysRkiYQ
— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) November 1, 2021
This team is clearly better than its results have shown, and while they are missing some attacking options, they still have the talent to cause Real some problems.
Their last meeting might not suggest a competitive match this time around, but Real Madrid are far from invincible at home. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have not won in three consecutive home matches, scoring just one goal over that period. They have also lost three of their last eight at home in the Champions League.
Real has gone unbeaten since the international break, but Ancelotti’s side are still vulnerable to an upset here. If they are without Rodrygo and Benzema, there’s reason to be concerned about their attack despite hammering Shakhtar last month.
Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League Statistics
| WLW | Form | LDL |
| 7 | Goals scored | 0 |
| 62.4% | Average possession | 60.0% |
| 3 yellows, 0 reds | Cards | 1 yellow, 0 reds |
| 22 | Shots per match | 13 |
| 54% | Shots inside the area | 41% |
| +1.37 | Expected goal difference per 90 | -0.65 |
Visitors to Cover
Shakhtar have been a real disappointment in the Champions League this season. Roberto De Zerbi has been unable to get his side to replicate their domestic form in European action, and they face an uphill battle to qualify for the last 16. As they showed last season, though, they are a dangerous team, and they head to the Bernabeu with nothing to lose.
Modrić wears the captain armband for the first time in his Real Madrid career.
What a moment! 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/ZTIi2GfxlW
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 30, 2021
Real should be able to control the game. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro will enable the hosts to dictate the tempo, but we have seen they can be caught out on the break. With just three clean sheets in nine matches, there’s value on Shakhtar to score over 0.5 goals at -105.
The visitors should get on the scoresheet, enabling them to keep this close. Missing such key players through injury could make it a tricky night for Real’s attack.
Pick: Shakhtar Donetsk +1.5 (+135)
Sports Writer
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
