Royal Antwerp welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to the Bosuilstadion this Wednesday for Champions League action. Both Antwerp and Donetsk lost their first game, meaning both sides will be desperate to get some points on the board to compete for the knock-out places.
Antwerp currently sit rock bottom of Group H after their opening game loss, and with the mauling by Barcelona, their goal difference leaves them bottom. In the Belgian Pro League, Antwerp sit fifth with three wins, five draws and one loss.
In their last five games in all competitions, Antwerp have one win, three draws and one loss. Vincent Janssen, Jelle Bataille and Arbnor Muja all scored in the 3 - 0 win over Westerlo where Antwerp had double the shots of Westerlo. However, Antwerp would crumble against Barcelona. Robert Lewandowski and Gavi were on the scoresheet along with a brace from Joao Felix and an own goal from Bataille as Barcelona won 5 - 0.
Antwerp would then go on a three game run of 0 - 0 draws. The first 0 - 0 draw came against RWDM where Antwerp had 73% of the possession and three shots on target in comparison to RWDM’s one shot on target. The second draw came against Gent. Antwerp once again dominated the game with 64% of the possession and completing 620 passes in comparison to Gent’s 361 passes.
Most recently, Antwerp drew 0 - 0 with Mechelen, this time registering 22 shots, though only four of them were on target.
Shakhtar Donetsk currently sit third in Group H after one game and one loss, but a lesser loss than Antwerp. In the Ukrainian Premier League, Shakhtar sit top of the league with five wins, three draws and one loss.
In their last five games in all competitions, Shakhtar has two wins, one draw and two losses. Yehor Nazaryna scored the only goal in the 1 - 0 win over ten man Obolon-Brovar who had Artem Vovkun sent off in the first half. In the Champions League, Shakhtar faced Porto. Galeno opened the scoring in the eighth minute and Kevin Kelsy equalised within five minutes. However, Galeno scored again two minutes later and Mehdi Taremi added another to give Porto the 3 - 1 win.
Heorhiy Sudakov opened the scoring for Shakhtar in the first half just minutes before Yaroslav Ratitskyi was sent off. Ten man Shakhtar couldn’t stop Bohdan Slyubyk equalising late on as Shakhtar drew 1 - 1 with Rukh Vynnyky. In the Ukrainian Cup Shakhtar faced Veres Rivne. Oleksiy Kashchuk, Artem Bondarenko and Oleh Ochertko all scored in the 3 - 0 win.
Most recently Shakhtar hosted Vorskla. Oleksandr Zubkov opened for Shakhtar but goals from Oleksandr Sklyar and Ican Nesterenko gave Vorskla the 2 - 1 win.
Antwerp and Shakhtar have never met professionally. However, one team does have more experience in Europe. This is Antwerp’s first time in the Champions League Group stage whereas this is Shakhtar’s 18th season in the Champions League, with the furthest they’ve reached being the Quarter-finals back in 2010.