Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille Match Analysis & Prediction
15/02/2024 8:45 pm
Returning to competitive action following a two-month break, Shakhtar Donetsk face Marseille in the first leg of their Europa League knockout-round playoff tie at Volksparkstadion on Thursday night.
The Ukrainian champions settled for third place in their Champions League group to drop down to this competition, while Gennaro Gattuso’s side were runners-up in Europa League Group B.
Due to the Ukrainian Premier League’s lengthy winter break, Shakhtar Donetsk have not taken to the pitch with the aim of securing priceless points since December 13, where their closing Champions League Group H tie with Porto ended with an extraordinary eight goals flying into the back of the net.
Unfortunately for Shakhtar, five of those goals came from Porto, whose 5-3 victory ensured that they would join Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, condemning Marino Pusic’s side to the Europa League between now and the end of the season.
However, that saw one consolation prize for Shakhtar to take home, as nine points was the highest total out of all eight teams to drop down into the Europa League, with the Miners doing the double over Royal Antwerp while also securing a memorable 1-0 victory over Barcelona in Hamburg.
The formula for Marseille was simple, avoid defeat to Brighton and progress to the last 16 of the Europa League with an unbeaten record from Group B.
However, Les Olympiens’ prolific touch evaded them on the English coast, where the Seagulls upset the apple cart to bypass the playoff stage.
Marseille travelled north having taken 11 points from their first five Europa League matches of the season – scoring at least twice in each of them – but on that fateful night in Sussex, a single strike from Joao Pedro in the 88th minute bumped Gattuso’s side down to second place.
Now testing their mettle in the knockout rounds of the Europa League for the first time since the 2017-18 season, Marseille have struggled to appease their demanding supporters domestically in recent weeks, managing just two wins from eight matches since being beaten by Brighton.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Marseille Head to head
Shakhtar Donetsk won each of the two previous encounters between these two teams, scoring four goals while conceding one.
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09/04/2009Shakhtar Donetsk2Marseille0Europa League
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16/04/2009Marseille1Shakhtar Donetsk2Europa League
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15/02/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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15/02/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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15/02/2024Shakhtar DonetskN/AMarseilleN/AEuropa League
Shakhtar Donetsk Team News
A handful of Shakhtar players will likely remain in the treatment room for this first leg, including Burkina Faso attacker Lassina Traore, who has played just three times all season due to a tendon injury.
Ivan Petryak (ankle), Marlon Gomes (calf) and reserve goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov (ACL) are also on the injury table.
Shakhtar Donetsk's Last 5 Matches
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25/01/2024Lech Poznan1Shakhtar Donetsk3Club Friendlies
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03/02/2024Shakhtar Donetsk0Hradec Kralove2Club Friendlies
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03/02/2024Shakhtar Donetsk2Velez3Club Friendlies
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08/02/2024Shakhtar Donetsk4Arkadag1Club Friendlies
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08/02/2024Lechia Gdansk1Shakhtar Donetsk1Club Friendlies
Marseille Team News
Marseille’s efforts to beat Metz were not aided by Samuel Gigot’s first-half red card, but while he is fine to feature in the Europa League, Ismaila sarr is suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Neither Geoffrey Kondogbia (muscle) nor Jordan Veretout (unspecified) were fit to face Mezt, where Valentin Rongier (knee), Bilal Nadir (ACL) and Amir Murillo (muscle) also sat out.
Marseille's Last 5 Matches
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12/01/2024Marseille1Strasbourg1Ligue 1
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21/01/2024RennesP 1Marseille1Coupe de France
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27/01/2024Marseille2Monaco2Ligue 1
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04/02/2024Lyon1Marseille0Ligue 1
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09/02/2024Marseille1Metz1Ligue 1
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Marseille: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Marseille or X
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