Shakhtar Donetsk vs Porto prediction 19.09.2023

• Competition: Champions League
• Date: Tuesday, 19th September 2023
• Kickoff: 20:00 UTC +1 / 21:00 CEST
• Venue: Volksparkstadion (Hamburg)

On Tuesday evening, in the first found of the Champions League Group phase, we will see a game between Ukrainian champs and Portuguese vice-champions on a neutral pitch at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. 

Shakhtar Donetsk are by far the best team in Ukraine in the 21st century, winning 14 league titles during that period. Even in those years when they failed to win the title, they finished 2nd. Last season, the Miners again won the title, and this season, they are 1st with 17 points and once again looking like the best team in Ukraine.  

Porto have been either the champs or vice-champs in several recent seasons. Last year, they had an incredible last part of the season, winning 11 of 12 games, but still finished second - two points away from the 1st-placed Benfica. This season started with a loss in the Super Cup, but the Dragons played very well in the league after that. Currently, they sit in 1st place in Liga Portugal with 13 points after five rounds. 

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Porto pick: Both teams to score

Shakhtar Donetsk had an excellent start this season, especially offensively. In seven rounds, Shakhtar Donetsk scored at least one goal in every game and scored 17 goals in total - 2.4 per game. Defensively, they have not been great, even in the Ukrainian league, and kept a clean sheet just twice. The additional problem for their defense could be the absence of two key central defenders, so I do not think they can keep their net intact vs Porto. 

Porto are in excellent form, winning four of the last five games. They have been very good offensively and failed to score only once in six games this season. That was against Benfica in the first game of the season, where they, in fact, scored a goal but was disallowed by VAR due to handball. On the other hand, Porto only once kept a clean sheet in six games. 

In four h2h games, we have seen both teams scoring three times. Considering these teams have been excellent offensively and not that great defensively, we think that both teams to score should be the best choice for this tie.