On Tuesday night, Celtic hosts Shakhtar Donetsk at Celtic Park in Group F of the Champions League as the visitors look to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 16.
The Hoops have already blown their chances of making it into the knockout stages of the Champions League.
🏟 Up next...#CelticShakhtar | #UCL | #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/T53H0NE4ih— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 24, 2022
🏟 Up next...#CelticShakhtar | #UCL | #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/T53H0NE4ih
A tally of just one point from their four matches so far in Group F means that even a third-place finish in the group looks unlikely.
To finish third, the Scottish giants need to win this game and their final group match against Real Madrid while hoping that Shakhtar lose their home game against RB Leipzig in gameweek six.
The likelihood of Celtic winning their final two games in the group looks remote, as the Scottish team has failed to win in their previous seven games in European football’s biggest competition while suffering five defeats in the run.
The Ukrainian team are still in contention for a place in the last 16 of the competition, despite winning just one of their previous 11 matches in the Champions League. They kick off this game in third place in the group.
However, they are just a point behind second-place RB Leipzig, who face group leaders Real Madrid in the other game in Group F.
The scenario is simple for the visitors: if they win their two remaining games, they will book their place in the competition's knockout stages.
Shakhtar’s recent away record is poor in the Champions League, though, as they have lost four of their last five away games on their travels in the competition while also conceding at least two goals in each defeat.
Forebet predicts that Shakhtar Donetsk will keep their hopes of a place in the last 16 alive by recording a victory in a high-scoring contest.