UEFA Champions League
Group Stage, Round 1
Metallist Arena, Kharkiv
September 19, 19.55 (Kyiv time)
On Wednesday, Shakhtar Donetsk and Hoffenheim FC will cross swords in their first face-off in UEFA Champions League group stage. The game will take place at Metallist Arena in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine.
Shakhtar starts with the home game, which is a good scenario for Paulo Fonseca's men; besides, it's been a smooth ride for Mountaineers lately. They seem to have no trouble with their opponents, besides Dynamo Kyiv, another top club from the Ukrainian Premier League.
On the other hand, Hoffenheim represents German Bundesliga, with the average class of opponents being obviously higher than that in the Ukrainian Premier League. So, while Shakhtar has more experience with performing in European football competitions, Hoffenheim might count on the superior class in their national league. Given the home support and a decent shape - at least for the time being, the Mountaineers have a good chance to prevail.
