UEFA Champions League preview: Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid Manager, to figure out the extraordinary situation involving Gareth Bale

Real Madrid will host Shakhtar Donetsk in their opening match of the Champions League this season.

Stadium: Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium

Key Statistics

  • Real Madrid will be facing Shakhtar Donetsk for the third time in UCL, with the former winning both the legs of the group stage in 2015/16 season
  • Shakhtar have lost on two occasions on their matchday 1 previously, with one of the defeats coming against Real Madrid in 15/16 season.
  • Los Blancos hold an impeccable record in the Champions League group stages, having progressed to further rounds in 28 of their group stages.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s winning streak in the Champions League (from 2013-14 to 2017/18 season) came to an end in 2018/19 season and they also were defeated in the round of 16 by Manchester City last season.

Los Blancos’s title defence to La Liga has taken an early hit this season, suffering a defeat against newly-promoted side Cadiz last weekend.

However, they will look to reinstate their form in the competition they are well known for this time around under Zinedine Zidane.

Real MadridPossible line-up:

Thibaut Courtois, Nacho Fernandez, Raphael Varane, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Rodrygo

Injured players

Eden Hazard (Muscular), Mariano Diaz (Tonsillitis), Dani Carvajal (knee injury), Martin Odegaard (calf)

Doubtful

Sergio Ramos (knee), Alvaro Odriozola (calf)

The game we have is tomorrow’s one. We’re only focussing on tomorrow’s match. The other matches will then come, but the only game we’re preparing for right now is tomorrow’s. I know that many Shakhtar Donetsk cannot play in this match, but that doesn’t change anything for us. They’re competitive and will come here with the players they have in their deep squad. We just have to be prepared for this and we want to start this competition well. Many teams are fighting to win the Champions League and we’ll do the same.

He (Sergio Ramos) had a problem and he hasn’t trained this morning. We didn’t want to risk anything. We’ll see tomorrow, but today he wasn’t able to train.

Zinedine Zidane

Shakhtar Donetsk

The Ukrainian giants are off to a sedate start this season, winning three and drawing three league games so far.

Shakhtar DonetskPossible line-up:

Anatoliy Trubin, Dodo, Valeriy Bondar, Davit Khocholava, Viktor Korniyenko, Maycon, Marcos Antonio, Viktor Kovalenko, Marlos, Dentinho, Tete