UEFA Champions League - Match Preview: Shakhtar Donetsk and Partizan Belgrade
Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian football league champions are all set to kick off their sixth UEFA Champions League campaign against Partizan Belgrade from Serbia. It will be a historic moment for Donetsk, who admittedly have not had the success that they have deserved so far in the Champions League.
Team’s who hail from the eastern European side of UEFA have had a slow start in the Champions League in the recent seasons due to the apparent lack of infrastructure and finances with regard to football on their side of the continent. Nonetheless, Donetsk is leading the charge as far as surprising the established powers of European football is concerned.
Last time Donetsk, played with the big boys of European football was back in 2009, when they began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a couple of wins but failed to retain the momentum they had gained earlier on in the competition. Mircea Luscescu, who is Donetsk’s manager right now, marshaled his side to a spot in the group stages of the Champions League after Shakhtar proved themselves to be the best in Ukraine, following their victory in the 2009-2010 Ukrainian football league.
The Ukrainian champions have suffered a major setback right before their opening encounter of the Champions League as their most important player and a real asset to their midfield, Fernandinho evidently injured his leg in last weekend’s match against Obolon, in the Ukrainian football league.
Fernandinho revealed this at the club‘s official website as he addressed the fans with his message that clearly put across the message that, he has indeed suffered a serious injury to his leg which will rule him out of Donetsk’s mid-week encounter against Partizan Belgrade. He also thanked the club’s fans for their continued support to the team and assured them that their stalwart warrior will be back to his full fitness levels as soon as possible.
Fernandinho’s absence will obviously be a hurtful one to Shakhtar’s bid to qualify for the next round of the UEFA Champions League. Last time Shakhtar lifted a European trophy was in 2009, when they won the UEFA Cup final.
On the other hand, Partizan Belgrade, who will be Shakhtar’s opponents tonight, began their journey for qualification for the UEFA Champions League’s group stages with a big four goals to one win over FC Pyunik on aggregate. This win in the second qualification round allowed them to proceed into the third qualification round where the Serbian’s dispatched F.C HJK with a five goals to one victory on aggregate.
Their final match of the qualification stages was against Belgian giants, Anderlecht. An encounter that went right to the death and at the end, Partizan won on penalties. Since the 2003-2004 version of the UEFA Champions League, this will be the very first time that Partizan make an appearance in the Champions League’s group stages. Shaktar’s main injury concern is regarding their defender, Mladen Krastajic.
Mladen is broke his nose earlier on in the season for the Serbian giants and therefore is expected to miss the match. However, Alexander, who is Partizan’s manager, said in his press conference that his experienced defender is willing to play and therefore the player should be commended for his desire and determination to play for Belgrade. Alternatively, Shakhtar Donetsk will most probably be without their defender Chygrynskiy, the former Barcelona man is absent due to his hamstring troubles
Partizan will most likely start with Joseph Kizito and Krastajic in their starting lineup. The former was out with injury for Partizan’s weekend’s commitments in the Serbian football league but is expected to make a healthy comeback against Donetsk. As the match is taking place at Donetsk’s home stadium, they will be the understandable favorites to win the game. However, a draw is likely when one takes into account the resilient nature of Partizan’s starting eleven.
Tags: