Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 at 10:02 am , filed under Champions League by Craig Farrell

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Barcelona FC meets Shakhtar Donetsk at home in the Champions League football match on Wed – 06th April kicks off at 18:45 GMT – Camp Nou. UEFA Champions League

FC Barcelona comes in this match, as a total favorite and has won ten of the preceding twelve European Cup quarter-finals. Barcelona has recorded four victories, a draw and two losses against Shakhtar.

In the Champions League groups, Barcelona has recorded one victory back in 2004 in Group F with 3-0 score and a loss in 2008 in Group C with 2-3 score at Camp Nou.

FC Barcelona has played fifteen Spain Primera Division matches this season on Camp Nou. On home ground, Barcelona has won thirteen, drawn one and lost one matches and this ranked the Barca 2nd in home team performance in the Spain Primera Division.

A Champions League victory will be the fourth in their history. Their second under Pep Guardiola, who in his debut season, as manager of Barcelona won a sextuple of trophies, however David Villa has not scored a single goal from the last six games for the club, but will be looking to break that drop on Wednesday.

The Argentine World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi has scored eight goals in the Champions League this season and a fabulous 42 goals in general with a bit of the season yet to play. Carles Puyol will be missing this match as he is still recovering from his knee injury, while the good news is that Maxwell is vigorous and back in action.

Barcelona will be looking to attack from the start and make their home fans cheerful, before travelling to Ukraine to play the return leg next week.

Shakhtar do not look anywhere close to as strong as their opponents. But, they are coming out in this game optimistic. The side believes they have a real shot to proceed and this match can be won.

They currently have won nine of their last ten European matches. But, they will find it difficult to keep that good run unbroken, when they travel to the most startling team at Nou Camp. Also, they have won the most recent game on Camp Nou with 2-3 score another interesting facts are that the side has eliminated Arsenal in the past seven seasons and has lost their next knockout match.

Shakhtar Donetsk has played twelve Ukrainean premier matches this season away from home. On away ground, Shakhtar has won nine, drawn one and lost two matches and this ranked the Gornyaki (‘Miners’) 1st in away team performance in the Ukrainean Premier.

Finally, I can say the two sides are playing the prettiest football in Europe. Barcelona, the best squad in football history and the top 3 players of the world are in the same club. But, Shakhtar is doubtful. Nobody knows what this team hides and what matches they play. I don’t believe that they will surrender easily.

Everything is possible in the game!

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Tags: Barcelona and Shakhtar Champions League, Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk, Shakhtar and Barcelona, Shakhtar and Barcelona UEFA League