Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica Free Betting Picks

It’s not just the Champions League that is making a comeback this week!

This Thursday the 1/16 finals of the Europa League will start across Europe. One of the shocks of this round will take place on the side of Kharkiv in Ukraine, at the Oblasny SportKomplex Metalist. The relocated Shakhtar Donetsk will host Benfica Lisbon, two clubs transferred from the Champions League after their third place. Long in pole position to qualify after its victory in Bergamo on the second day, the Ukrainian club will have missed the match by chaining 4 games without a win, including the double confrontation against Dinamo Zagreb, yet clearly within its reach.

The Shakhtar nevertheless had all the cards in hand until the last day, but Atalanta came to take revenge in Ukraine (3-0) to win the second qualification ticket behind the untouchable Manchester City. The psychological ascendancy will therefore perhaps be on the side of the Portuguese club, the Benfica having found themselves in the opposite situation at the dawn of the 6th day and having managed to maintain a European future this season thanks to a convincing success 3- 0 against Zenit.

Big match in perspective?

Key stats for the match Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica

Shakhtar and Benfica are two great teams on the European stage today. The show should be there.
During the group stage, 21 goals were scored in the Shakhtar’s 6 games (8 for, 13 against). Or an average greater than 3 goals per game.
16 wins and 2 draws in 18 league games: the Shakhtar flies over the Ukrainian Premier League more than ever.
Benfica have always scored at least 1 goal in their 6 LDC games this season.
The Lisbon club is also the leader of the Portuguese championship with 18 victories and 3 defeats in 21 days.
The Ukrainian championship has been on hiatus since mid-December. Although this match is played in Ukraine, the club will not progress in its stadium and could lack rhythm … A plus for Benfica!
The two clubs had been eliminated at different stages but by the same club in C3 last season: Eintracht Frankfurt, semi-finalist.

Free Betting Picks Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica

This meeting is surely one of the most indecisive – and therefore one of the most open – of these sixteenth rounds. The Shakhtar has arguments to make but will once again move out of his stadium and will be short of competition. Benfica can therefore pull out of the game in this first leg. Spectacular match in prospect, over 2.5 goals!