Shakhtar Donetsk vs Monaco Odds & Prediction – Champions League Qualifying Playoff Leg 2
- Out-of-form Ligue 1 side Monaco heads to Ukraine as favorites at 3:00 pm ET on Wednesday
- Shakhtar leads 1-0 from first leg tie thanks to a winner from Brazilian Pedrinho
- See the odds and best bets for Shakhtar Donetsk vs Monaco in the Champions League Qualifying Playoff Leg 2
Shakhtar Donetsk will be confident of progress when it defends a 1-0 first-leg lead at home against Monaco in the Champions League Playoff round on Wednesday.
The Ukrainians of Shakhtar are in far better form with four wins from their five league fixtures so far.
It has put them in second place behind leaders Dynamo Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Monaco is struggling. One draw and two defeats in France’s Ligue 1 has left it in 19th place.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Monaco Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaktar Donetsk vs Monaco | SHA +0.5 (-180) | MON -0.5. (+135) | SHA +190 | MON +145 | DRAW +235 | Ov 2.5 (-115) | Un 2.5 (-115) |
Odds as of August 24 at DraftKings
Coupled with the setback against Shakhtar, it has suffered three straight competitive defeats. And it has not scored a single goal during that dismal spell.
Surprisingly, however, the oddsmakers at DraftKings make Monaco a +145 favorite for a win in the city of Kharkiv, with kickoff at 3:00 pm ET.
Further, Shakhtar is priced at +190 with the draw after 90 minutes at +235.
Group Stage Place At Stake
A place in the UCL group stage is at stake with the draw for that section of the competition on Friday.
The loser of the tie will head into the Europa League.
There is a chance here to capitalize on the surprising fact that Monaco is the favorite – with the price of +190 for a Shakhtar victory an attractive one.
A 19th-minute goal from Brazilian midfielder Pedrinho secured Shakhtar’s first-leg win.
He was signed from Benfica in June for $32 million.
Shakhtar has discovered a new attacking zest since the arrival of its new coach Roberto De Zerbi.
However, Monaco was the more dominant side and mustered 16 attempts on goal compared to Shakhtar’s six.
The Shakhtar team has discovered a new attacking zest since the arrival of its new coach, the Italian Roberto De Zerbi.
Monaco continue poor start to French season https://t.co/nx31XVhd9H pic.twitter.com/oKuMtP2nbZ
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) August 21, 2021
It has scored 11 times in its Ukrainian domestic league fixtures while conceding only twice – a tribute, furthermore, to De Zerbi’s defensive qualities.
A 3-0 win away against Chornomorets Odesa was, moreover, the ideal free-scoring warm-up for the return clash with Monaco.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Monaco Statistics
| 3 | Wins | 2 |
| 0 | Draws | 0 |
| 0 | Losses | 1 |
| 5 | Goals | 5 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 2 |
| 8 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
In eight competitive fixtures so far in this campaign, Shakhtar has, furthermore, racked up seven wins.
Significantly, Shakhtar qualified directly for the group stage for the previous four seasons.
Home and Away Wins Against Genk
But this time around, De Zerbi’s side entered the UCL at the third qualifying round stage.
It won 2-1 away against Belgian side Genk and then followed up with a 2-1 win at home.
There have already been four goals supplied across all competitions by the team’s striker from Burkino Faso, Lassina Traore.
Last season Shakhtar recorded home and away group stage wins against Real Madrid but still finished third and dropped into the Europa League.
It was eliminated by Roma at the last 16 stage.
Meanwhile, Monaco would have expected a far more promising start to the season after a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
💬 "We must play as we can and know, without thinking about the first leg"
⚒ Roberto De Zerbi speaks ahead of the game vs AS Monaco in Kharkiv, the team's mood and Trubin's injury ⬇️https://t.co/cZn1c7VfEt#Shakhtar #ShakhtarASM #UCL
— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) August 24, 2021
That fired the team back into European competition after it missed out last season.
Its preparation for the return meeting with Shakhtar was disappointing – a 2-0 defeat at home by Lens last weekend.
It has, furthermore, been a frustrating start in particular for the team’s French international forward Wissam Ben Yedder.
He has failed to hit the net in six appearances so far this season.
Monaco also entered the UCL at the third qualifying round stage.
The previous meeting between these two teams came in July, 2015 when Shakhtar won a home-friendly 3-0.
After a 2-0 win away against Sparta Prague, it followed up with a 3-1 victory at home.
The previous meeting between these two teams came in July 2015 when Shakhtar won a home-friendly 3-0.
🔚 Full time! Two-goal win for @RCLens in Monaco!#ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/fMUD8B1FBx
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 21, 2021
Shakhtar was a 2-1 winner in a UEFA Cup tie in 1979 with Monaco then progressing after a 2-0 win at home in the return leg.
Striker Pedrinho was withdrawn at half-time during Shakhtar’s defeat of Choronomorets last weekend.
But it was merely a precautionary move and he will be fit to start on Wednesday.
Monaco Bank On Volland
However, fellow Brazilian midfielder Maycon may miss out.
German forward Kevin Volland was rested by Monaco last weekend with the specific aim of tuning him up for this UCL return clash.
🔥 TOMORROW! 😍 The @ChampionsLeague is back at the OSC Metalist! 🔥 #ShakhtarASM #Shakhtar #UCL pic.twitter.com/nqIy9nh4e1
— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) August 24, 2021
However, in conclusion, Shakhtar is the form team and has a strong European pedigree while Monaco is drifting and in trouble.
So a home win for the Ukrainians looks most likely.
Pick: Shakhtar Donetsk +190
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
