Good evening! It's an hour until kickoff in Lviv where
Shakhtar Donetsk will be looking to complete a double over
BATE Borisov following their record-breaking 7-0 win last month. The teams have just been announced, so let's take a look at the squads...
SHAKHTAR STARTING XI: Pyatov, Shevchuk, Ordets, Srna, Rakitskiy, Stepanenko, Fernando, Costa, Teixeira, Adriano, Taison
BATE STARTING XI: Chernik, Gayduchik, Khagush, Mladenovic, Polyakov, Yablonski, Karnitski, Volodko, Gordeychuk, Yakolev, Signevich
SHAKHTAR SUBSTITUTES: Kanibolotskiy, Ismaily, Fred, Bernard, Marlos, Dentinho, Gladkiy
BATE SUBSTITUTES: Soroko, Aleksievich, Olekhnovich, Baga, Volodko, Klimovich, Rodionov
Luis Adriano will surely be the main danger man for the hosts. He equalled the record set by Lionel Messi for scoring five goals in a single
Champions League match last time out. However, he performance has been overshadowed by claims that he was
racially abused during the match.
Shakhtar captain Srna will have to be careful this evening, he's just one booking away from a suspension, so could be withdrawn early is the home side find themselves with a big lead early on again.
BATE are without Filipenko, as he's carrying a hamstring injury. Aleksandr Karnitski will be the key player for the visitors tonight though, he's scored five goals in his last five outings in the Belarusian league.
In his pre-match press conference, Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu said: "It doesn't matter who we play and what the result of the last game was if it's the UEFA Champions League. This is the most prestigious tournament and we are the only club involved from Ukraine. We will play for ourselves but also for the coefficient of Ukraine. We need three points. We don't expect an easy game after the 7-0 win. Each match is a different story and BATE must be supremely motivated after that disappointing result. I'm sure they will be fully focused and will be eager to restore their reputation, so it's very important for us not to listen to talk about us winning the match 3-0 or 4-0 or whatever."
Meanwhile, BATE coach Aleksandr Yermakovich told reporters: "It's really hard for us to compete with clubs who are better in many departments, but we don't consider ourselves outsiders in the group. We'll see at the end of the group stage what we achieve. We are going to at least put up a fight against Shakhtar and play some quality football. There is no one recipe for recovering from a loss such as what we had on matchday three. Of course, we analysed that match very closely and saw how many mistakes we made. Now we hope to avoid them at the Arena Lviv."
Shakhtar suffered their first defeat in four outings at the weekend, losing 2-1 to Metalurgh Donetsk. Meanwhile, the visitors picked up their first win in three outings against Dinamo Minsk.
The hosts aren't playing in their usual Donbass Arena at the moment. The stadium was damaged during political protests in Ukraine earlier this year, while ongoing safety concerns have led to the team playing their home ties elsewhere.
With their orange kit and pink bibs, you certainly can't miss the Shakhtar players taking part in their warm up this evening!
Despite sitting second in the group, Shakhtar have won just one of their three matches so far in the group stage, having shared draws with Porto and Athletic Bilbao before thrashing BATE last month. With matches against the Spanish and Portuguese sides still to come, Shakhtar will be keen to make sure that they clinch another victory tonight.
After clinching a surprise win over the La Liga side earlier in the competition, BATE will be hoping that they can hold on to finish third in the group. They were well beaten by Porto earlier in the competition though, so avoiding a defeat tonight would stand them in good stead.
Elsewhere in Group H, Bilbao host Porto tonight. You can also follow live coverage of this match
here.
REFEREE WATCH! German referee Wolfgang Stark is in charge of tonight's match. The 44-year-old is an experienced UEFA official, having taken charge of 117 European matches, including 48 in the Champions League. He also took charge of the 2012 Europa League final.
Despite Shakhtar playing away from their own stadium this evening, a big crowd is expected tonight. The club attracted over 33,000 supporters for their draw with Porto earlier in the season, and UEFA are expecting in excess of 30,000 again tonight.
PREDICTION! The players should be making their way out shortly, so there's just enough time to make a prediction. Realistically, it's difficult to see BATE avoiding another heavy defeat this evening, particularly as they're now away from home. They should have learnt something from their last match though, so I'm going for a 4-0 win for Shakhtar tonight.
The players are in the tunnel ready to make their way out for kickoff. There's a bit of a pre-match routine for both sides to go through before the action can get underway, with UEFA continuing to promote their No to Racism campaign.
What an atmosphere the players come out to! It's more or less full in the stadium, and there's a decent number of away supporters too. The stadium erupts as both sides line up ready for kickoff.
KICKOFF BATE get the match underway.
It's a slightly panicky start from the hosts as they concede a corner inside the opening minute, but Mladenovic's delivery fails to cause any problems. Shakhtar quickly try to push down the the other end, winning a free kick around 30 yards out, but Douglas Costa's strike is well held by Chernik.
BATE have certainly shown a bit more promise so far this evening as Signevich gets forward and wins another corner, before the striker tries to turn Mladenovich's delivery in, but it's dealt with well by the hosts.
The hosts have their first corner of the game, but Gajduchik clears the first before Taison's second attempt fails to find his teammates. Khagush appeals for a handball against Taison, but the referee isn't interested.
Shakhtar are starting to see a little more of the ball, but they haven't really tested Chernik since Costa's early free kick. Taison tries to play a through-ball for Adriano, but he gets it all wrong, and it goes behind for a goal kick.
Taison is on the move again for the home side, trying to find Adriano, who is lurking in the box. However, the cross is turned behind for a corner, which is swiftly dealt with by the visitors.
Shakhtar are starting to dominate possession now, and certainly look keen to get forward, but they're struggling to create any clear cut chances at the minute. BATE certainly seem to have tightened up at the back following the 7-0 defeat last month, and in particular appear to be focusing on keeping Adriano quiet. So far, it's working well.
GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 BATE Borisov (Darijo Srna)
BATE have done everything right so far, and they can count themselves unlucky there as Darjo Srna's volley on the edge of the box takes a massive deflection on the way through, leaving Chernik no chance in the BATE goal. Adriano set the home captain up, pulling it back from close range to provide the ball for the defender.
CHANCE! Shakhtar try to catch out BATE as they look to regroup, with Adriano trying to tap in from close range after a quick move by Taison, but he can't quite reach the ball in time.
Adriano is starting to find a bit more space in the box now and is looking dangerous for the hosts. Srna tries to repay the assist that got him on the scoresheet, picking out Adriano with a high ball, but he took a step too many before going for goal, allowing BATE to clear the threat.
The visitors give away a free kick in a promising position for Shakhtar, but Adriano can't turn the ball in from Shevchuk's effort into the box.
CHANCE! Alex Teixeira comes within a couple of inches of doubling the hosts' advantage as he tries to smash the ball in from close range after a well-timed ball in from Costa, but his finish is just wide of the left post.
After surviving a dominant spell from Shakhtar, BATE try to get back down the other end, and they win a free kick when Stepanenko is brought down by Yablonski, but they can't threaten the Shakhtar goal from the set piece.
The hosts are on the attack again, with Srna trying to find Adriano, but the captain's delivery is a little over hit, and it goes behind before the forward can get to it. Adriano has been well marked so far, and has looked dangerous when he's had the ball, but he certainly hasn't had the impact that he had in Borisov last month.
The game has just started to fall a little flat as we head towards half time. Shakhtar are lacking a bit of urgency, having already taken the lead, while BATE are doing little to concern the Shakhtar goalkeeper.
Shakhtar finally have to do some defending as Gajduchik gets forward, but a foul on Adriano prevented him from getting his shot away.
Yakovlev tries to create something for the visitors, firing a cross in for Gordeychuk, who was waiting for it at the back post, but Shakhtar are ready and make the clearance.
CHANCE! How have Shakhtar not added a second?! The ball falls to Teixeira just inside the box, and he hits it superbly first time, forcing a brilliant stop from Chernik. The parry fell to Adriano, but he could only smash the rebound over.
CHANCE! BATE actually come close to an equaliser just before half time as Ordets deflects a Karnitski through-ball behind for a corner, which Yablonski tries to blast in, but Pyatov is alert and makes a comfortable save.
CHANCE! There's a bit of handbags as Chernik saves an Adriano effort from point blank range. However, Adriano follows in, and seemingly catches the keeper while trying to force the ball over, and the referee has to step in and separate the players.
BOOKINGS! Adriano and Khagush are booked for the skirmish in the goalmouth. Khagush is unhappy that Adriano kicked the keeper, while Adriano believes that he scored.
RED CARD! Khagush manages to talk himself into an early shower! Having been booked for lashing out at Adriano a few moments earlier, the defender tries to convince the referee that Adriano should be off, and in doing so earns himself a second booking as the sides head off for the break.
HALF TIME: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 BATE Borisov
Well that was an eventful final few minutes of the first half between Shakhtar Donetsk and BATE Borisov. The hosts thought they'd doubled their advantage,
Anri Khagush thought that Shakhtar should have had a man sent off, and managed to talk himself into a red card. The visitors must be worried that that will cost them in the second half. They were hanging on in the final few minutes of the half, and will now have to try and do the same while a man short.
Let's take a look at some of the stats from the opening 45 minutes. Shakhtar saw by far more of the ball with 65%, and had seven shots to BATE's three. Both sides had a player booked, but the visitors were reduced to 10 men as the players headed off as Khagush ignored the referee's pleas for him to drop him argument for
Luiz Adriano to be sent off.
In the other match in Group H, Athletic Bilbao headed into half time on level terms with Porto following a goalless first half.
KICKOFF! Shakhtar get the match back underway in Lviv.
SUB! The visitors make a change at the start of the second half to balance out the side following Khagush's dismissal. Edgar Olekhnovich comes on for Andriy Yakovlev.
GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 BATE Borisov (Alex Teixeira)
It doesn't take the home side long to make the most of their man advantage, as Adriano tees up his strike partner with a superb flick of, leaving Teixeira with an easy finish from close range. However, there is some suggestion that he may have offside, but it was missed by the assistant referee.
CHANCE! Srna tries to set Teixeira up for another, but this time the linesman spots that the striker is offside and raises his flag. Had he been allowed to get his shot away, it would likely have needed a good save from Chernik to deny him.
Signevich makes a promising looking break for the visitors, but he fails to spot Gordejchuk in space on his right, and gets crowded out on the edge of the box. Taison tries to break on the counter-attack, but he can't find Adriano in the box.
CHANCE! Teixeira has been a menace since the restart, and he's almost through for his second of the night as Adriano plays him in again, but he rushes his finish, slicing it just wide.
Shakhtar have a corner as they try to extend their advantage further but Ordets hits it wide from Costa's delivery.
PENALTY TO SHAKHTAR!
Yablonski hacks Luiz Adriano down as the striker rushes in towards goal, giving the hosts a spot kick.
GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 BATE Borisov (Luiz Adriano PEN)
Adriano scores his third penalty against Chernik in two matches, putting it in the same bottom corner that he scored twice from the spot in the 7-0 victory. The goal makes the striker the top scorer in the Champions League so far this season.
SUB! The visitors make their second change of the night, bringing on Maksim Volodko for Yabslonski.
CHANCE! Adriano is through on goal again, but this time his low drive is held by Chernik. It looks like this could be any score right now.
Volodko tries to give the visitors some hope, forcing a corner down the other end, but his delivery back into the box is poor, and Srna easily hooks it away.
SUB! The hosts make their first change of the night, and it's a surprisingly attacking move, with Marlos coming on in place of Viacheslav Shevchuk.
SUB! Shakhtar ring more changes as Fred comes on for Fernando.
Fred looks to make an immediate impact as he presses forward straight away, but Marlos's delivery back in is wasted as Costa fouls Volodko.
CHANCE! Marlos carves out a superb solo chance, using some flashy footwork to round a number of defender on the edge of the box before trying to curl a low shot in, but his finish it a fraction wide.
SUB! It's the final change of the night for the visitors as Signevich makes way for Vitali Rodionov.
CHANCE! Chernik makes a superb save to deny Douglas Costa as Marlos, who has been superb since coming on, flicks the ball on for Teixeira, who in turn finds Costa, but the BATE keeper is in the right place at the right time to make the stop.
UPDATE! With the frantic pace of this second half, we've barely had chance to update you on the other Group H match this evening! After a goalless first half, Porto are now 2-0 up against Bilbao. That will keep the Portuguese side top, and also leave BATE in third place.
SUB! The home side make their last substitution, bringing on Bernard for the final 15 minutes in place on Taison.
The home side win a free kick in a dangerous position as Fred is tripped by Mladenovic. Srna lines it up for the Ukrainian side, but his effort fails to trouble Chernik.
Shakhtar are continuing to run at the BATE defence as they look for a fourth. Adriano tries to set up Marlos, but the winger mis-times his run, allowing the visitors to get it clear.
GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 BATE Borisov (Luiz Adriano)
It's eight goals in four games for Luiz Adriano, as he scores his second of the night. Douglas Costa slots in the cross for the striker, who lunges to meet the delivery and guide it into the back of the net.
Shakhtar are on the hunt for a fifth, and they force a corner. Bernard curls the ball for Rakistskiy, but he can't get the ball on target. Shakhtar have constantly threatened in this second half though, there's certainly time for a fifth.
It looks like BATE might have to finish the match with nine as Polyakov goes down injured, and they've already used all of their substitutes.
As the action gets back underway, the fourth official indicates that there will be three minutes of stoppage time. Costa and Fred immediately take control as they continue Shakhtar's pursuit of a fifth goal.
CHANCE! Teixeira and Bernard both have shots blocked as the home side continue to put the visitors under pressure at the back.
Incidentally, BATE are now down to nine as Polyakov has limped to the sideline.
GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 BATE Borisov (Luiz Adriano)
Adriano finishes the night with a hat-trick, as well as an assist from the first half as he calmly slots the ball in after sending Chernik the wrong way.
FULL TIME: Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 BATE Borisov
Luiz Adriano adds a hat-trick to his five-goal haul from the reverse fixture to give Shakhtar Donetsk their second win of the group stage, leaving them second in the table, two points behind leaders Porto. There's good news for BATE though, with Bilbao losing, they hold on to third spot in Group H.
That's all from Lviv for now, but stick around as we'll have reports, reaction, analysis and ratings from this match and all the Champions League fixtures taking place this evening. Also, join us again tomorrow as the Europa League takes centre stage. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening.