The Europa League is back with Shakhtar Donetsk and Stade Rennais set to clash in Ukraine with the Ligue 1 travelling side struggling for form since the World Cup and have plummeted down the table as a result.
Even though they sit second in their own league, Shakhtar themselves have not been at their best in the Ukrainian Premier League this season with them now in second and level on points with third-placed Dynamo Kyiv.
Hard work goes on 😤All thoughts about the Europa League match vs Rennes to be played in Warsaw on February 16.🎟 Match tickets: https://t.co/t41LUMVJ6v.#Shakhtar pic.twitter.com/8lvQhATcrI— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) February 13, 2023
Hard work goes on 😤All thoughts about the Europa League match vs Rennes to be played in Warsaw on February 16.🎟 Match tickets: https://t.co/t41LUMVJ6v.#Shakhtar pic.twitter.com/8lvQhATcrI
On the other hand, Shakhtar have two games in hand to play this season over Kyiv and also one on Dnipro-1 at the top - the gap is still five points on them before they return to league action at the end of this month.
The Ukrainian giants can reignite their title charge if they can win those two games in hand, as they have lost just once in the league this season and won nine of their 13 outings.
Last time out, they won 4-0 in a friendly as the club have not played a competitive fixture for three months.
Shakhtar did, however, have a tough time of things in the Champions League this season. They went on to win just one game from the six in total, losing two and drawing three.
This still brought in eight goals and 10 conceded. In fact, their only win in Europe this season came in a stunning 4-1 demolition over RB Leipzig back in September.
As for Rennais, they eased into the knockout rounds of the Europa League by going unbeaten in Group B. The Ligue 1 side managed to win three games and draw three, scoring 11 and letting in only eight.
At the same time, they finished just two below Fenerbahce in the group stages to force them into the play-offs instead.
Back in France, Rennais lost 3-1 to Toulouse last weekend and also lost to Lille 3-0 just a week prior. It means only three wins in 2023, which includes a 1-0 win over PSG.
It's set to be a tough game to predict. The weather in Poland is set to be extremely cold and Shakhtar's excellent home record in Europe in recent seasons will bode well for them here.
In fact, with four goals in their last home game and 10 goals in the past three, Forebet predicts a win for them here and for the game to see under 2.5 goals as Rennais continue to struggle in 2023