Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk Preview
- Tournament: Champions League
- Date: Wednesday, Jan 29
- Kick-off Time: 08:00 pm GMT
- Venue: Signal Iduna Park
Borussia Dortmund is set to play Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday in the final group stage game of the UEFA Champions League at Signal Iduna Park. The game will be an important one for the hosts regarding their qualification to the next stage of the competition.
The hosts are currently placed in the 14th place with 12 points after seven games. In the last game of the competition, a win will ensure their place in the next stage but whether it will be a direct qualification into the round of 16 or will have to play a playoff game depends on the results of the other team. In the last game of the competition, Dortmund lost to Bologna 2-1 after the Italian side scored two goals in one minute.
Form has not been good for the German side as they have failed to secure a win in the last five games across all competitions. Their loss against Bologna was a big blow as they are in a tricky situation now. In the competition, they have scored 19 goals and conceded 11 so far.
Shakhtar Donetsk, on the other hand in the 27th position with seven points. They have a very slim chance of getting into the play off stage but a victory is all that they would want and wait for other results.
They secured a convincing 2-0 win against Brest in the competition after goals from Kevin and Georgiy Sudakov. In the Ukrainian league, the side is placed in the third position and ten points away from the top spot, with a game in hand. In the last five games across all competition, the side has secured two victories, two losses and a draw. In the Champions League, the side has scored seven goals and conceded 13 goals so far.
On that note, let’s take a look at the team news for Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Interim Manager, Mike Tullberg will look to turn things around after a very poor start in the year 2025. He does not have much of a problem with injuries. Felix Nmecha and Nikals Sule remain sidelined due to physical problems.
After the club’s draw against Werder Bremen, Nuri Sahin has been sacked and Tullberg has been given the responsibility to oversee the game. The manager will be expected to rely on Serhou Guirassy for some goals as he was in great form last year but things have not turned out to be in his favour so far this year.
Shakhtar Donetsk Team News
In all of their UCL games thus far, including their 5-1 loss to Bayern, manager Marino Pusic has employed his full-strength starting lineup and will hopefully do so in the upcoming game against Dortmund. He will be expected to start Dmytro Kryskiv as a pivot in the game. Artem Bondarenko and Georgiy Sudakov will be important attacking midfielders in the game if they are given the opportunity to start.
Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)
Goalkeeper: Kobel.
Defenders: Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini.
Midfielders: Can, Brandt, Gross, Nmecha, Gittens.
Attackers: Guirassy.
Shakhtar Donetsk Predicted Lineup (4-1-4-1):
Goalkeeper: Riznyk.
Defenders: Konoplia, Bondar, Ghram, Matviyenko.
Midfielders: Kryskiv, Bondarenko, Sudakov.
Forwards: Zubkov, Kevin, Sikan.
Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk Head-to-Head Record
Both teams will be facing each other for the first time in 12 years to conclude their league phase campaign in the competition. They have faced each other four times in the past and out of it Dortmund has won three of them and one has ended in a draw. Shakhtar Donetsk are yet to win a game against this opposition.
| Year | Match | Competition |
| 2013 | Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Borussia Dortmund | UEFA Champions League |
| 2013 | Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk | UEFA Champions League |
| 2001-02 | Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk | UEFA Champions League |
| 2001-02 | Shakhtar Donetsk 0-2 Borussia Dortmund | UEFA Champions League |
Key Player to Watch in Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
The young Englishman has been a key player for Dortmund this season, chipping in with seven goals and three assists in the Bundesliga. In UCL, the player has scored four goals in seven games so far. In the competition, he has an xG of 1.2 and an xAG of 0.7.
Oleksandr Zubkov (Shakhtar Donetsk)
In the Champions League thus far this season, the midfield player has been his team’s top goal scorer. Zubkov has contributed two goals and one assist so far in Shakhtar’s campaign, despite playing lower down the pitch. In UCL, his xG has been around 0.21 so far.
Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction
Every pundit will think of an easy victory for the German side but things could be different depending on the form Dortmund has been since the start of the year. The interim manager would look to oversee this game successfully and help the side secure their first victory of the year.
Predicted Score: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Where to Watch Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk Live?
| Country | Where to Watch |
| USA | Paramount+ |
| UK | TNT Sports |
| Ukraine | Megogo |
| France | Canal+ |
| India | SonyLIV |
FAQs
Q. When is Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk?
A. Borussia Dortmund will host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday, January 29 at 08:00 PM GMT.
Q. Where can you watch Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk for free?
A. Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream will stream the match for free.
Q. What is the predicted score for Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk?
A. Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk.
Q. What is the recent head-to-head record for Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk?
A. They have faced each other four times in the past and out of it Dortmund has won three of them and one has ended in a draw. Shakhtar Donetsk are yet to win a game against this opposition.