After missing a great chance against Arsenal on matchday 1, Atalanta continue their Champions League campaign at Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night.
Mateo Retegui had a chance from the penalty spot to break such a tight tie with the Gunners less than two weeks ago, but the Italy international was incredibly denied twice by David Raya. Both sides struggled to create much afterwards, although Atalanta had to settle for a point against the Premier League side
Europa League holders La Dea will be banking on their first win of the league stage in Gelsenkirchen against a Shakhtar side who are getting familiar with Italian opposition.
The Ukrainians also struggled from the penalty spot on matchday one as the high-profile Georhiy Sudakov had his effort saved by Bologna’s Łukasz Skorupski early on. Shakhtar fought back for the remainder of the contest and were perhaps lucky to escape with a stalemate.
Their domestic problems earlier in the season would suggest this is not a vintage Shakhtar outfit.
Here’s your guide to Shakhtar Donetsk vs Atalanta on Wednesday evening.
location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
stadium: Auf Schalke Arena
date: Wednesday, October 2
Start time: 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
referee: Joao Pinheiro (POR)
WAS: Tiago Martins (POR)
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Atalanta H2H Record (all matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Shakhtar Donetsk |
Atalanta |
|---|---|
|
Veres Rivne 1-1 Shakhtar Donetsk – 27/09/24 |
Bologna 1-1 Atalanta – 28/09/24 |
|
Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 Obolon-Brovar – 23/09/24 |
Atalanta 2-3 Como – 24/09/24 |
|
Bologna 0-0 Shakhtar Donetsk – 18/09/24 |
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal – 19/09/24 |
|
Shakhtar Donetsk 5-2 Karpaty Lviv – 14/09/24 |
Atalanta 3-2 Fiorentina – 15/09/24 |
|
Oleksandriya 4-3 Shakhtar Donetsk – 24/08/24 |
Inter 4-0 Atalanta – 30/08/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Application TNT Sports 3, discovery+, discovery+ |
|
united states |
Paramount+, ViX |
|
canada |
DAZN |
Danylo Sikan has scored three goals for the home side this season, but broke his nose on the opening matchday against Bologna and has been sidelined ever since. His status is in doubt for Wednesday’s game.
Long-term absentee Tymur Puzankov is closing in on his comeback, but it is likely to come after the international break. Shakhtar will be able to call on Yukhym Konoplya as he returned to action on Friday.
Sudakov may have struggled to impress in Ukraine at Euro 2024, but the playmaker is the man Atalanta will need to control at this one.
Shakhtar’s expected line-up against Atalanta (4-2-3-1): Riznyk; Konoplya, Matviyenko, Bondar, Pedrinho; Bondarenko, Kyrskiv; Zubkov, Sudakov, Newerton; traore
The visitors have some injury concerns in defence, and Gian Piero Gasperini will be hoping to recall Isak Hien after the centre-back missed Atalanta’s 1-1 draw with Bologna at the weekend.
While Hien has a chance to feature, Ben Godfrey and Rafael Toloi remain out.
Marco Brescianini picked up a hamstring injury at the weekend and is not expected to return to action until next month. Saturday’s savior Lazar Samardzic and Mateo Retegui should come into Gasperini’s XI on Wednesday, with one of Ademola Lookman or Charles De Katelaere dropping to the bench.
Atalanta predicted line-up against Shakhtar (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Kossounou, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; Samardzic, Lookman; Retegui
Gasperini reduced the intensity of Atalanta against arsenalbut you should expect a very different side to emerge on Wednesday night. Bologna’s work without the ball troubled Shakhtar two weeks ago, and the visitors will surely see the hosts’ vulnerability as an avenue to exploit.
This doesn’t appear to be a particularly good Shakhtar side and playing their home games away from Ukraine certainly makes it difficult for them. All in all, Atalanta will be hoping to get their first win of the league stage, and they could do so with relative ease.
