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Shakhtar Donetsk
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 2, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

1-1

Taison (76')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Welbeck (18')

Preview: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Manchester United

Sports Mole looks ahead to Manchester United's trip to Shakhtar Donetsk for their Champions League encounter.

David Moyes has not enjoyed the most successful of starts to his stint as manager of Manchester United.

From a possible 18 points in the Premier League, Moyes's side have collected just seven, while they have also lost to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

However, the Red Devils won their opening Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 earlier this month. On Wednesday, the English champions will go up against a side that also emerged victorious from their first group fixture - Shakhtar Donetsk, who overcame Real Sociedad 2-0.

Having been left out of the weekend's 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, experienced defensive duo Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra are expected to return to the United starting lineup, as is Robin van Persie.

Rio Ferdinand, who has been heavily criticised for his performance against the Baggies, could be dropped, though, with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans all vying for his place.

The hosting Ukrainian giants have a number of Brazilians within their squad, with the likes of Bernard, Alex Teixeira and Douglas Costa all tipped to start.

These two sides have never faced each other, but Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu was in charge of Inter Milan when they were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by United back in 1999.

Recent form

Shakhtar: WLWWWD

Man United: LWWLWL

Possible starting lineups

Shakhtar: Pyatov; Srna, Kucher, Shevchuk, Rakitskiy; Hubschman, Teixeira, Costa, Bernard, Luiz Adriano; Taison

Man United: De Gea; Evra, Vidic, Evans, Rafael; Valencia, Carrick, Fellaini, Nani; Rooney, Van Persie

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Manchester United manager David Moyes prior to kick-off against Manchester City on September 22, 2013
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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


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