Date and Kick-off Time
- Date: 15th February 2024
- Kick-Off Time: 5:45 PM (GMT)
- Tournament: UEFA Europa League
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille Match Preview
Volksparkstadion, the home of Shakhtar Donetsk, begins its knockout campaign by welcoming Marseille. The hosts finished third in the UCL group stage with 9 points in Group H, winning three and losing three, thus dropping down to the second tier. This meant their last match was a 5-3 loss to Porto in December before their lengthy break in their domestic league.
Finishing the group with their highest points for an eliminated side, despite beating group leaders Barcelona. The Ukrainian champions return to competitive action after a two-month break.
Marseille finished runners-up in the Europa League, winning three, drawing two, and losing one to secure 11 points, which was enough to guarantee their spot. The French side plays Shakhtar after a 15-year gap. In Ligue 1, Marseille has nothing to rejoice about after a poor run entering the game. Winless in the last five matches, with just a single draw, is something of high concern for Gennaro Gattuso.
Team News
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk enters the field after a long winter to bring back the energy and prove a point.
Marino Pusic’s team’s win over the Spanish giants went in vain. The only consolation was the points won as they finished third, giving them a direct entry to the Europa League. Another positive for the side was a double over Royal Antwerp as well.
Even in the previous six editions of the Champions League, Shakhtar has failed to get past the group stage, but the 2009 UEFA Super Cup winners have lost just twice at this stage of the tournament, although the last time was a nightmare 8-2 slaughter under the hands of Feyenoord in the last 16.
The Ukrainian side’s defense is yet to grab a clean sheet in seven successive games and has only won three out of seven friendlies during the break. At the same time, the last match was a 4-1 thrashing of the Turkmenistan outfit Arkadag on February 8th. Shakhtar Donetsk will miss Burkina Faso, Lassina Traore, Ivan Petryak (ankle), Marlon Gomes(calf), and reserve goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov (ACL).
Marseille
Marseille’s goal will be simple: just avoid defeat, just as they dodged the bullet against Brighton, who qualified with an unbeaten record.
Gattuso’s men travel north after taking 11 points from their five Europa League games. They have also found the back of the net twice in each of their games, but a fateful night at Sussex, where an 88th-minute finish from Joao Pedro was enough to send the French powerhouse to the second spot.
History is not on the French side, as they were beaten last time out 4-1 by their upcoming opponents in the quarterfinals of the 2008/09 UEFA Super Cup. Finally, the Miners lifted the trophy as well.
Marseille will miss Ismaila Sarr (suspended), Geoffrey Kondogbia (muscle) Jordan Veretout, Valentin Rongier (knee), Bilal Nadir (ACL), and Amir Murillo (muscle).
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Predicted IX
Shakhtar Donetsk
Riznyk; Gocholeishvili, Bondar, Lemkin, Matvienko; Stepanenko; Zubkov, Bondarenko, Sudakov, Eguinaldo; Sikan
Marseille
Lopez; Clauss, Mbemba, Balerdi, Merlin; Ounahi, Onana, Harit; Ndiaye, Aubameyang, Correa
Head-to-Head
Shakhtar Donetsk – Last 5 matches
W L D W L
Marseille – Last 5 Matches
D D D L D
Quarter-finals: 2008/09 UEFA Europa League
- Marseille 1- 2 Shakhtar Donetsk
- Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Marseille
Agg: 1 – 4 Shakhtar Donetsk win
Prediction
One side having not played a competitive game for eight weeks faces another who is struggling as well.
Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Marseille
Odds
- Betfair
- Shakhtar Donetsk 2/1
- Draw 9/4
- Marseille 23/20
(Odds subject to change)
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille Timings & Telecast
- India: Sony Liv, Sony Sports Network
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports
- US: CBS Sport
- Turkey: Exxen TV8,5
- Czech Republic: AMC Networks ÄÂT
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