Shakhtar Donetsk vs Wolfsburg Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 02/08/2020, 08:30  by James | Modified on 02/08/2020 at 09:57 in Europa League Predictions

Continental football returns this week with the Europa League finally resuming. Among the Round of 16 ties yet to be decided, Shakhtar Donetsk play the second leg of their tie against Wolfsburg in Ukraine. The first leg (played in March 2020) ended badly for the Germans as they lost 2-1 at home in a game that featured both teams missing penalties. While the second leg will be played in Ukraine - and the other unfinished ties will continue with the home and away format - the tournament will be conducted across four venues in Germany from the quarter-final point onward. The winners of this tie will face the winners of the Eintracht Frankfurt-Basel tie. Shakhtar will feel confident about progressing after picking up a valuable away victory. Luis Castro's team also wrapped up the Ukrainian title with five games to spare in mid-June and will feel more match-fit than their opponents after ending the season in mid-July. Wolfsburg ended the Bundesliga season with a respectable seventh-placed finish, qualifying for next season's Europa League. They played their most recent match (a 4-0 defeat to Bayern) on June 27th.

Shakhtar finished their domestic campaign in typically dominant fashion, going unbeaten for the final nine matches. Seven of those matches were victories. While they crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage, they are unbeaten in the Europa League knockout stage this season and look a cut above their opponents. Wolfsburg trail but shouldn't despiar as they are unbeaten away from home in the Europa League this season, winning two of their four games on the road; and allthough Shakhtar beat Benfica at home in the Round of 32, it is worth noting that they had failed to win their previous seven European home ties. With this in mind and the odds available, we suggest taking a punt on the visitors to at least take this tie to extra-time,