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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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Written by
Liam Apicella
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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
QLiverpool770021
QBarcelona760118
3Inter Milan751116
4Arsenal751116
5Atletico750215
6AC Milan750215
7Atalanta742114
8B. Leverkusen741213
9Monaco741213
10Brugge741213
11Brest741213
12Aston Villa741213
13Lille741213
14Feyenoord741213
15Dortmund740312
16Real Madrid740312
17Bayern740312
18Celtic733112
19Juventus732211
20PSV732211
21Benfica731310
22PSG731310
23Sporting Lisbon731310
24Stuttgart731310
25Man City72238
26Dinamo Zagreb72238
27Shakhtar72147
28Bologna71245
29Sparta Prague71154
30Sturm Graz71063
31RB Leipzig71063
32Girona71063
33Red Star71063
34Salzburg71063
35Slovan Bratislava70070
36Young Boys70070


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