Ucl: Napoli-Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 |As it happened...
MATCH PREVIEW:
- Shakhtar Donestsk beat Napoli 2-1 in Ukraine earlier this season; that group stage game was the first time these sides had ever met in competitive action.
- Shakhtar Donetsk have only lost once in their last five matches against Italian opposition in the Champions League (W3 D1).
- Napoli are yet to taste defeat at home to sides from Ukraine in European competition (W1 D2).
- Shakhtar Donetsk will secure a spot in the Last 16 of the Champions League in this match, provided they claim at least a point (they are already assured of a Europa League place).
- Napoli must win this game to have any hope of reaching the knockout phase of the 2017/18 Champions League; a point in this game will guarantee a Europa League place, if Feyenoord lose to Manchester City however.
- Napoli are currently sat on three points; in 46 previous instances of a side having three points after four matches since the current format was initiated in the 2003/04 campaign, only two sides have managed to progress to the Last 16 of the Champions League (4%).
- The Italian club come into this game having only managed one victory in their last six in this competition (L5); conceding four goals in their most recent outing against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
- Shakhtar Donetsk however have registered three wins in their four 2017/18 Champions League group stage matches; they have gone six games in this competition without a clean sheet however.
- Seven of Napoli’s last 11 home goals in the Champions League have seen the direct involvement of Dries Mertens; scoring five times and claiming two assists in that time.
- Marlos (Shaktar Donetsk) scored a brace in his side’s 3-1 victory against Feyenoord on Matchday 1, the first time he’s ever got on the scoresheet in the competition; also creating five chances for his teammates in that game.
LIVE COMMENTARY: