Viktor Grachov: "It won't be the same Leipzig that lost to Shakhtar in the first round of the Champions League"

Ihor Jovichevich's wards have a chance to reach the 1/8 of the Champions League, but for this the Donetsk team needs to beat RB Leipzig. Is the "miners" capable of such a task, Viktor Grachov, the ex-striker of Shakhtar, told.

— To Viktor Oleksandrovych, Shakhtar has already fulfilled the minimum task by ensuring the playoffs of the Europa League. Is it a success?

— Of course, success. I think there were few experts who would have predicted that Shakhtar would make it to the spring part of the Eurocups.

After all the changes in the composition and also during the war in the country... Honor and praise to the team for achieving such a result. In addition, the group of "miners" is far from the weakest. And this is not the end of the story.

— Did you like Shakhtar's game?

— Matches are structured differently. The main thing is that in these matches the coach correctly selected the team that produced results. I think that Igor Jovichevich already has a "foundation" in mind for the match with "Leipzig". At the same time, I would really like Lacina Traore to enter the field from the first minutes, who can decide the fate of the match.

— A decisive match against Leipzig is ahead for the right to enter the playoffs of the Champions League. How many chances do the "miners" have to win?

— The German team recently added, they have not lost nine matches in a row, they beat Real Madrid, so it will be very difficult. It will not be the same opponent that Shakhtar met in the first round.

However, "Leipzig" plays itself and lets the opponent do it. They score a lot and concede a lot. You can take advantage of this, the match will be extremely interesting.

— Such dexterity in the Champions League was not expected from Shakhtar. Can the Orange and Black go into the match more relaxed than their opponent?

- Hard to tell. "Leipzig" will settle for a draw. However, Valery Vasyliovych Lobanovskyi always said: "If you play for a draw, you will definitely lose."

On the other hand, the Germans will want to take revenge for the 1:4 defeat. After all, a solid financial bonus for a victory also depends on it.

— What will be your prediction for this match?

Shakhtar will definitely want to make it to the Champions League playoffs. Despite the fact that both teams are capable of scoring, in this meeting everything can be decided by one goal.

And I would very much like this goal to be performed by Shakhtar players. I would bet on the victory of the "miners" with a score of 1:0.

Yaroslav Pyatnytskyi