Artem Frankov, a well-known journalist and editor-in-chief of Futbol magazine, made a prediction for the Champions League group stage match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar:
"Shakhtar's meetings with Real Madrid are very fresh in the memory (it's the third in a row!), but the sad phrase "a long time ago and not true" fully characterizes the situation. No, it's just old and familiar Real, who just last weekend failed to win for the first time this season (future Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema missed a 79th-minute penalty and there was a surprise home draw with Osasuna, which played in the minority - 1:1), but here is "Shakhtar"... We are, of course, gradually getting used to where to go.
The position of the bookmakers regarding the future match is more than obvious: no one is confused by the victory of the young Shakhtar two years ago (Solomons are all kinds of manors and menorahs, Tete...) in the Madrid match two years ago (3:2), when the miners took a sensational lead after the first half 3 :0, and then it was not easy, but they defended the gained advantage. But everyone remembers that in the last season "Real" beat Shakhtar twice without any problems. And where are his problems coming from now, with the Ukrainian team, which can be called new, but by no means updated?! The update still marks some kind of positive process, and not a half-hearted escape with forced transfers.
What does it say in favor of our team - are there such factors? Of course there is. First of all, this "Real" of Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly proven that it is a team of mood and inspiration - and if the opponent "doesn't excite", then the "Whites" can simply not tune in to the game, switching on somewhere "later". "Real" will play imposingly, academically, hoping that the opponent will collapse on its own and bring victory in the beak - the chances are there, the chances are growing.
Moreover, "Shakhtar" is in a great and fighting mood, for which special thanks to Ihor Jovichevich and his work. Donetsk residents did not notice Kharkiv Metalist (6:1) in the championship of Ukraine and did not lose at all this season. Especially worth looking at is Danilo Sikan, who scored hat-tricks in two matches in a row - for the country's youth team against Slovakia and again against Metalist, but first he bombed in the second half and then in the first.
Odds on the result: 1.18 - 7.90 - 17.00, total over 3 at 1.57 (only!)
My bet: The goal of Vinicius Junior (koff 2.0), who is in great form and scores a trick in every match, looks quite nice; there is no point in breaking the difference or the individual total of "Real" - the koffs are not the same; I do not dare to advise a bet on Shakhtar - unless the visitors will score at 1.90, and not necessarily Sikan!".