For our Feyenoord vs. Shakhtar prediction, we're going for a 2-1 win for the home side.
Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk square off on Thursday evening for a place in the Europa League quarterfinals with the scores finely balanced.
Feyenoord reached the last 16 of the Europa League by topping Group F, a group containing Midtjylland, Lazio and SK Sturm Graz.
The Dutch side are having their best season in a number of years as they currently sit top of the Eredivisie with eleven games remaining.
Their form in Europe has been in line with their form domestically, too, having emerged from a tough group only to get one of the more difficult last 16 draws, a draw that they are now favoured to win.
The two sides drew 1-1 in the first leg and it was a game that Feyenoord will have emerged from both happy and frustrated. The happiness comes from the standard of performance and the revelation that they are the better side of the two, with the frustration thus coming from the fact they did not come away with a win from a game they dominated.
Nevertheless, they're still in a hugely advantageous position as they only have to win on home soil to progress, and given they've won seven of their last eight matches it's something most will expect them to do.
Shakhtar Donestsk reached the last 16 of the Europa League by finishing 3rd in Champions League Group F, a group containing
The Ukrainian side have had a decent season considering the well noted difficulties they've been forced to content with amidst a highly publicised war as they sit top of their domestic league and have a decent chance of making the Europa League quarterfinals.
They'll have to improve from the first leg of their last 16 tie, though, where they retaining only 39% of the possession and managed just one shot on target against Feyenoord.
Shakhtar's form overall is good however, where they've won five of their last six matches in all competitions having drawn the other.
The Ukrainians have a tonne of European pedigree and while they are by no means at their strongest they will feel like they can get a win in the Netherlands and secure what would be a huge achievement for the club and their country given the circumstances.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.