Football Results

Due to conflict in eastern Ukraine the match will take place in Kharkov, and we need to remind that the two teams met 12 years ago in the group phase of Champions League and each time home team won, while in 2011 Shakhtar won both their round of 16 matches.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Right because of that Shakhtar fans believe their teams might reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, despite that Rome made a significant progress in the meantime and are regarded as slight favourites to win the match. True, reigning champions of Ukraine have showed what they can in the group phase, especially when they played at home where they defeated all three rivals, including very good Napoli and Manchester City, which in the end was positioned below them in the table.

Perhaps Shakhtar’s biggest problem ahead of match with Roma is fact that two-month long break in the Ukrainian championship had ended just last weekend, although they immediately won at home Chernomorets by sound 5-0. In that way Shakhtar continues to occupy the leading position in the table, where it has three points more and has played one match more than 2nd-placed Dyanmo Kiev. Let’s add that only two players are out of action for this match, injured midfielder Malyshev and suspended defender Srna.

Probable lineups Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov – Butko, Ordets, Rakitsky, Ismaily – Fred, Stepanenko – Marlos, Taison, Bernard – Ferreyra

AS Roma

The 1st leg of the round of 16 comes for the guests from Rome after three consecutive wins in the Serie A that had followed six-game winless streak of three defeats and three draws. It is obvious that manager di Francesco players have managed to find the right rhythm right before continuation of competition in the Champions League. Roma did a good job in the group phase as it had ended as the first placed team in its group, leaving behind very strong Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

On the other hand Roma currently occupies the third place in the table and it seems that by the end of season it will be locked in fierce battle with Inter and Lazio for remaining two places that lead to the Champions League, given that leading duo, Juventus and Napoli, have more than 15 points than they. Let’s add that situation with absences has significantly improved in the meantime and currently out of action are only injured defender Karsdorp and midfielder Gonalons.

Probable lineups AS Roma: Alisson – Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov – de Rossi, Strootman – Under, Nainggolan, Perotti – Dzeko

Verdict:

Given that this is duel between two teams that played much better at home than away in the group phase, it suggests that Shakhtar is closer to victory but we are all aware of fact that Roma can always play good defence, which is why we gave advantage to pick with fewer goals.

Pick:  under 2.5 goals 1.87 - 87/100 @1XBet