Shakhtar Donetsk v Porto Betting Tips [19 September 2023]

Shakhtar Donetsk will be at home against Porto on Tuesday to begin their UEFA Champions League campaign. The other two teams in Group H of this season’s competition are Royal Antwerp and Barcelona. Shakhtar Donetsk bring with them a five-match unbeaten stretch to this matchday one tie. Patrick van Leeuwen’s men have won four times in this run including in their last three outings. They beat Obolon’ Kyiv 1-0 at home on Saturday to maintain their lead atop the Ukrainian Premier League. That match was played in Lviv which isn’t where this match with Porto will take place. The Miners will play all their Champions League home matches this season in Hamburg, Germany. This is due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last season, Shakhtar played their European home matches in Poland so this isn't a new scenario for them.

Porto also arrive for this group opener in magnificent form. The Portuguese giants haven’t lost in their last five matches and have won four times in this stretch. Sergio Conceicao’s men were 1-0 winners away to Estrela on Friday. The win saw them maintain their hold on top spot in the league. Porto made the knockout rounds last season and are high favourites to finish in the top two in this group. Despite being unbeaten, the Dragons haven’t dominated their opponents and have played in closely-fought matches. All their wins have been by one goal margins and the win over Estrela was the first time they kept a clean sheet.

Our prediction for Shakhtar Donetsk v FC Porto is for both teams to score. Both these two teams have been good on the offensive end in the lead-up to this match. They however have been caught out at the back more than once. Combining the two aspects should see both get on the score sheet here.