Shakhtar Donetsk will be looking to complete the job in France on Thursday, as they bring a 2-1 advantage into their second leg against Rennes. It was a fine display by the Ukrainian side in last week’s first leg, and they will be optimistic about their chances of reaching the next round of the competition.
Europa League Preview
It has been a memorable season for Shakhtar Donetsk for a number of reasons, as they have been a shining light for those impacted by the war in Ukraine. After a decent display in the Champions League, they dropped into the Europa League playoff round last week. They were excellent in that opening 45 minutes at the Polish Army Stadium, as they quickly sprinted into 2-0 lead.
Dmytro Kryskiv scored the opening goal of the match after eleven minutes, before they took a deserved 2-0 lead on the stroke of half time through Artem Bondarenko’s penalty. Rennes offered some fight back in the second half, and pulled one back through Karl Toko Ekambi with half an hour remaining. However, Shakhtar defended excellently to secure a famous win.
The trends certainly aid Shakhtar’s chances this week, as they have lost just one of their previous 14 matches on the road in the Europa League. Over that period, they have recorded nine victories and have been held to two draws. However, one of their most recent defeats on the road did come in this competition last season, as they were beaten by Roma.
Rennes will also be confident coming into this second leg, as they have gone eight without a defeat in home European fixtures. Over that period, they have picked up four victories and four draws. Their most recent home European game ended in a 1-1 draw against AEK Larnaka in November.
Rennes vs Shakhtar Donetsk Head to Head
None of the eight previous matches that Rennes has played against Ukrainian sides have ended level. Over that period, they have picked up three wins and have lost five times. However, two of the defeats have come in fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Rennes vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction
There is something special about Shakhtar in European competition this season, as there is a sense that they are playing for the whole of Ukraine. We could see another big performance coming by the team away from home this week, and we could see that being enough to secure a 1-0 win in France.
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