Famous Ukrainian journalist and commentator Roberto Morales shared his expectations of Shakhtar Donetsk's first Champions League match against Porto.
Roberto Morales- The opening match in the Champions League group stage is critically important for Shakhtar Donetsk. The current squad cannot count on getting points from a position of strength, plus the logistics of travelling are complicated. So far, the game of Donetsk is quite raw. It's no longer Jovetic's team (with all the pros and cons), but it's not even van Leeuwen's Zorya. The problems in the centre of defence add to the concerns. It turns out that the Rakitsky-Lemkin pairing is becoming almost unavoidable. However, the Donetsk midfield is capable of doing a lot if it plays to its strengths. It is also important to integrate the activity of the laterals into the team game.
"Porto are also far from being in good shape. The Dragons started the season with a defeat to Benfica in the Portuguese Super Cup match. Sergio Conceição's men have won all three of their league victories (and they have never faced top or simply strong enough opponents) with a minimal margin of victory. Also, in the last game against Estrela Amadora, experienced defender Ivan Marcano was injured. It's also worth noting that Porto tries to play quite actively in the selection process, but it's not very effective.
The bet is on a penalty or a sending-off in the match," Morales said.
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