Borussia Dortmund Vs Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League Clash

Borussia Dortmund has put all the eggs in the UEFA Champions League basket; that’s why elimination in the round of 16 against Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk will be hard to understand.  Both teams clash this Tuesday at 14:45 PM ET at Donbass Arena stadium, in Germany.

Dortmund won the Bundesleague and the German Cup last season, but this season they Bundesleague seemed out of reach, and they were eliminated from the Cup last week.  The Champions League seems to be their only hope for this year.

“We have never said this is a bad season for us,” said midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski. “Obviously we want to win the championship, but this season Bayern are very strong.

“The German Cup elimination is also a fact, but we still have a chance to make the Champions League quarter-finals, so I hope that by 11 o’clock on Tuesday evening we will all be happy.”

These two teams draw 2-2 in the first meeting, but they are equally good in terms of soccer style and offensive power.

“Dortmund are strong and have shown they can open teams up with relative ease,” the 67-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu told reporters at the pre-game press conference.

“Jurgen Klopp is a world-class coach, and we expect to come under a lot of pressure. It will not be easy by any means.

“I predict the team that wins will make it to the Champions League final.”

Dortmund is listed -170 to win the game in the moneyline, and Shakhtar +450; the draw pays +235.