Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tips [21 October 2020]

The very interesting UEFA Champions League Group ‘B’ will kick-off with former champions and Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid host Shakhtar Donetsk in Madrid. With Borussia Monchengladbach and Inter Milan also part of this group, it has all the makings of a ‘Group of death’.

Madrid fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to lowly Cadiz in La Liga over the weekend that ended their otherwise unbeaten start to the season – three wins and a draw. The loss also ended an eight-match winning run at home in La Liga. However, Madrid’s form in the Champions League has been patchy. Zinedine Zidane’s men have lost their last two Champions League matches – both by a 2-1 scoreline to Manchester City last season to crash out in the round of 16. Along with that, Madrid have won only three of their last nine Champions League matches – losing four and drawing two. Even at home, they have been poor with just one win in their last six Champions League home matches losing three and drawing two.

That record could give some hope to Shakhtar Donetsk to pinch a point from this trip. The Ukrainians have avoided defeat in five of their last six Champions League away matches – winning two and drawing three. Home and away in the continental competition, Shakhtar have avoided defeat in six of their last eight Champions League matches drawing four. Recent form has been encouraging too with Shakhtar unbeaten in their five domestic league matches – winning two and drawing three.

Real Madrid will meet Shakhtar Donetsk for the third time in the Champions League, having won both the group stage games in 2015/16. Those two matches saw Madrid score eight goals and hit 46 shots. Madrid’s recent form, though, has been patchy and Shakhtar could be looking to get on the board. We are backing both teams to score in this match. A medium wager can be had on Shakhtar returning with at least a point – as Madrid have won just one of their last six Champions League home matches.