Shakhtar vs Antwerp Prediction: Sikan to sink pointless Belgians

A shock 1-0 win over Barcelona last time out has breathed new life into Shakhtar Donetsk’s Champions League campaign, and they can give themselves a huge chance of qualifying for the last 16 by beating Royal Antwerp on Tuesday evening (20:00).

The game will be played at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, owing to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with the visitors hoping to get off the mark in Group H after four consecutive defeats.

Antwerp look destined to finish bottom of the group with only a handsome win in Germany, coupled with results going their way on the final matchday next month, giving them a chance of finishing in third.

Team News

Former Ajax striker Lassina Traore has been injured since mid-August and he misses out once again alongside midfielder Artem Bondarenko. Experienced defender Yaroslav Rakitskyi was left on the bench in Friday’s goalless draw with Zhytomyr but he will hope to return to the starting XI after scoring in the reverse fixture in Antwerp.

The Belgian side won’t be able to call on the services of Jurgen Ekkelenkamp on Tuesday after the Dutchman was sent off in the 2-0 defeat to Porto earlier this month. Antwerp will also be without Bjorn Engels, Mandela Keita, Jacob Ondrejka and Anthony Valencia due to injury.

Match Odds

Shakhtar are EVS to beat Antwerp in Germany, while Mark van Bommel’s side are 13/5 to win and throw their hat in the ring for Europa League qualification. The draw is also available at 13/5.

The game between these two in Belgium saw Antwerp race into a 2-0 lead before the Ukrainians staged a second-half comeback to win 3-2; it’s 4/6 for both teams to score on Tuesday, and 22/1 for a repeat of the scoreline in Shakhtar’s favour.

Shakhtar to win @ EVS

Mathematically, Antwerp still have a chance of finishing third, but it feels like a remote possibility as it would involve beating Shakhtar by at least two goals, beating Barcelona on the final matchday, and hoping the Ukrainians lose to Porto, who could already be qualified.

Therefore, the motivation to win is firmly on the side of Shakhtar, and after their stirring comeback against the Belgians last month, they should be confident of overcoming them again.

A victory over Barcelona surely puts a bounce into the stride of any team, while Antwerp are yet to score on their travels in the Champions League this season, losing 2-0 and 5-0 to Porto and Barcelona, respectively.

Shakhtar can go level on points with one of those two teams on Tuesday, and I don’t think they will let that opportunity slip by.

Danylo Sikan to score anytime @ 8/5

Key to Shakhtar’s chances of qualification so far has been 22-year-old striker Sikan, who has scored three of their six goals in the group, including the winner against Barcelona. Sikan’s other two goals came in the win at Antwerp, so he already has form with Tuesday’s opponents.

The Ukraine international has saved his best form for this competition – he’s scored the same amount in the league, despite playing 13 times – and his side could do with him maintaining his European form for the final two games.

Antwerp have already shipped 14 goals in the group, so Sikan looks a good bet to get on the score sheet again this week.