One of the most interesting fixtures this week is the UEFA Champions League, Group F clash between Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk and Italian outfit Napoli. In our free OddsDigger Shakhtar Donetsk vs Napoli preview, we examine a game that almost guarantees a tonne of entertainment. Both sides have a reputation for playing fast, attacking football, and while today’s football betting odds make the Italians ever so slight favourites, the contest could really end up in a variety of outcomes.
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In the months leading up to today’s Shakhtar Donetsk vs Napoli betting tips, the Ukrainians have won seven from eight of their Premier League matches since mid-July. Their form has allowed them to fight their way to the top of the table to establish an early lead. Shakhtar lost all but one of their UCL group matches in a disappointing European campaign last time they competed there in 2016.
Maurizio Sarri has the away team playing some of the easiest on the eye football around at the moment, making them slightly favoured in our Shakhtar Donetsk vs Napoli predictions. The Partenopei had to overcome plucky French side Nice in the Champions League qualifiers and they did so comfortably, dispatching the Frenchmen 2-0 in both legs.
The team from Naples made it to the UCL knock out stages in 2016/17 before being beaten 6-2 on aggregate by eventual winners Real Madrid. They will expect to go a little further in this year’s competition given the talent available to them.
To begin our Shakhtar Donetsk vs Napoli picks we are backing the way side to pick up the three points. Sarri’s sky blues have some wonderful players at their disposal, including Marek Hamsik, Lorenzo Insigne and the Belgian flyer Dries Mertens. The Partenopei haven’t lost a competitive away fixture in nine outings, making them a dangerous proposition on the road for any team. Shakhtar have a less than impeccable record at home in European competition winning just three of their last eight in front of their own fans. They have conceded nine in their last five fixtures there too. The Neapolitan’s arrive in Eastern Europe with a classier pedigree and they should have the ability to win their opening Group F contest.
Despite their almost perfect start to the new campaign, the home team have kept only once clean sheet in seven attempts. Sarri has seen his side concede goals in 50% of their four games, which is a little better, but it’s clear both teams will give their opponents chances to score. That’s why backing both teams to score is the next piece of advice from our Champions League football tips for today. Napoli’s double clean sheets against Nice were unusual – in nine of their previous ten European duels, they allowed the opposition in to register a goal. Their style of play is beautifully open, but with such a commitment to attack, the back door is quite often left unlocked. It’s extremely likely that both teams will get on the scoresheet on Wednesday, so get over to Betfair to back our tip. They have some of the best value around for this Champions League face-off.