Match Preview

Real Madrid prepare to take on FC Shakhtar in their third Champions League group stage match of the season, this time in Kyiv at the NSC Olimpiyskiy.

This is the second consecutive season these clubs have faced each other in the group stage after Real were unable to get a result twice against Shakhtar last season. Real dropped the first match at the Di Stefano by a score of 3-2 and followed that with another 2-0 loss on the road.

It’s been tough to garner wins for Shakhtar this season as they have lost and drawn their previous two group stage matches. They have yet to score a goal after failing to do so against Sheriff Tiraspol and Inter Milan. They sit at the bottom of Group D holding just a single point.

Real Madrid lost their last Champions League match 2-1 against Sheriff at home. This will be another opportunity to get an away win after doing so in the opening match against Inter. Los Blancos currently sit second in their respective group sitting three points behind Sheriff.

Injuries/Suspensions

Real Madrid receive a boost for Tuesday as both Marcelo and Ferland Mendy are back in the squad after missing significant time. However, they still retain several injuries including Dani Ceballos, Isco, Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard and Dani Carvajal.

Shakhtar will be without the services of forwards Junior Moraes, Lassina Traore and Yevgen Konoplyanka.

There are no suspensions for this meeting in Kyiv.

Potential XIs

Shakhtar Donetsk

Pyatov; Dodo, Marlon, Matviyenko, Ismaily; Stepanenko; Marlos, Solomon, Patrick, Pedrinho; Fernando

Real Madrid

Courtois; Nacho, Militão, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Rodrygo, Vinicius, Benzema

With Carvajal out for this match Nacho will likely fill his spot while Eder Militão and David Alaba slot in the center back positions. Ferland Mendy should get the start after training with the squad this week and ahead of El Clasico this weekend.

Vinicius will most likely start with Eden Hazard out injured as well with Rodrygo and Karim Benzema up top with him.

Prediction

Shakhtar Donetsk—Real Madrid 1-2

This will be a tough away match for Real Madrid even with a relatively healthy starting squad. Shakhtar have given Los Blancos a tough time in recent history in the Champions League that this club will have to overcome.

As previously mentioned, Shakhtar have struggled in the competition so far in scoring goals and getting wins. While they are tied for having scored the most goals in the Ukrainian Premier League, they haven’t been able to translate that over to the Champions League so far.

Despite this, Real are on the road and it will be a tough match to bring three points away from. But they must in order to keep up with a trending Sheriff club who have won both of their previous two matches.