UEFA Champions League
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Played
December 6, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Neo GSP — Strovolos
Referee:‬ O. Hațegan‎
Attendance:‬ 22537‎
 
 
Luiz Adriano 62′
 
Yevhen Seleznyov 78′

APOEL v Shakhtar Donetsk Preview: Hosts look to maintain unbeaten Champions League record

The home side sit in first place in Group G, having already booked their spot in the round of 16, while the visitors have been eliminated from European competition

By Roger Gonzalez

More On :  APOEL, Shakhtar Donetsk, APOEL vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Ailton (APOEL)
Getty

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

APOEL

Pardo
Poursaiditidis, Jorge, Jahic, Oliveira
Morais, Satsias
Adorno, Marcinho, Manduca
Solari
SHAKHTAR DONETSK

Rybka
Kobin, Rakytskiy, Kucher, Rat
Hubschmann, Mkhitaryan
Douglas Costa, Jadson, Willian
Luiz Adriano

For APOEL, Helio Pinto looks set to sit out the contest after picking up a foot injury on Friday in their 2-0 win over Anagennisis, while Ailton will likely miss the clash after Ivan Jovanovic stated last week that the forward must rest to overcome his ankle problem. Argentine Esteban Solari, the brother of former Real Madrid midfielder Santiago Solari, will likely start in attack.

Ivan Trickovski will also likely miss the match after picking up a hamstring injury on matchday five. William Boaventura has not featured since the end of October due to a sprained ankle and will not play.

There is no pressing injury news for the visitors, who are close to full strength, other than the absence of Dmytro Chygrynskiy, who is still out after rupturing his thigh muscle on October 26.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • APOEL have not lost a game in the group stage this campaign, winning two and drawing three, clinching a spot in the round of 16. They will win the group with victory, or if Porto draw with Zenit, or a draw and a Porto victory would suffice.
  • The home side have become the first team from Cyprus to reach the last 16 of the tournament.
  • On matchday two, the two teams played out a 1-1 draw.
  • Shakhtar Donetsk have not won a group stage game in the Champions League this season, drawing two and losing three.
  • The visitors have not seen victory in seven consecutive Champions League games, dating back to last season.
  • In the 2010-11 edition of the tournament, the Ukrainians advanced to the quarter-finals, ultimately losing to champions Barcelona.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • APOEL 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
    24.43 %
  • APOEL 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
    17.58 %
  • APOEL 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
    13.93 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 6 Dec 2011 APOEL 0 - Shakhtar Donetsk 2
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 28 Sep 2011 Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - APOEL 1
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Last Five Matches
APOEL
4 Apr 2012Real Madrid 5 - APOEL 2UCL
27 Mar 2012APOEL 0 - Real Madrid 3UCL
7 Mar 2012APOEL 1 - Olympique Lyonnais 0UCL
14 Feb 2012Olympique Lyonnais 1 - APOEL 0UCL
6 Dec 2011APOEL 0 - Shakhtar Donetsk 2UCL
Shakhtar Donetsk
6 Dec 2011APOEL 0 - Shakhtar Donetsk 2UCL
23 Nov 2011Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - Porto 2UCL
1 Nov 2011Zenit 1 - Shakhtar Donetsk 0UCL
19 Oct 2011Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - Zenit 2UCL
28 Sep 2011Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - APOEL 1UCL
Odds
Returns: Apoel Nicosia £710.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £360.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Shakhtar Donetsk £28.80 188bet Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game
Team News
Available Squads
78Urko PardoGoalkeeper
3Paulo JorgeDefender
-Sanel JahicDefender
6Jose Marcelo OliveiraGoalkeeper
7Savvas PoursaitidisDefender
26Nuno MoraisDefender
10Konstantinos CharalambidesMidfielder
81Marcinho da SilvaMidfielder
21Gustavo ManducaMidfielder
29Nektarios AlexandrouMidfielder
11Ivan Trickovski Midfielder
22Dionisis ChiotisGoalkeeper
4Claudiano Bezerra da SilvaDefender
-Tijani BelaidMidfielder
17Marinos SatsiasMidfielder
77Athos SolomouMidfielder
20Aldo Adorno Striker
9Esteban Andrés SolariStriker
25Olexandr RybkaGoalkeeper
5Olexandr KucherDefender
13Vyacheslav ShevchukDefender
44Yaroslav RakytskyyDefender
33Darijo SrnaMidfielder
3Tomas HubschmannDefender
7FernandinhoMidfielder
10WillianMidfielder
20Douglas CostaMidfielder
22Henrik MkhitaryanMidfielder
9Luiz AdrianoStriker
30Andriy PyatovGoalkeeper
26R. RaţDefender
14Vasyl KobinMidfielder
19Olexiy GayMidfielder
11EduardoStriker
-Yevhen SeleznyovStriker
9Marcelo MorenoStriker
Players to Watch
Esteban Andrés Solari
Esteban Andrés Solari
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
8 1 2 0
The Argentine will get a chance to prove his worth on Europe's top stage and should have enough chances to find a goal and help his team cement their place at the top of the group.
Jadson
Jadson
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 20
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
The talented Brazilian midfielder, courted by several top European clubs, has the ability to set up goals. He will need to utilise his technique if his team are to earn their first win of the group stage.
Prediction

The home side have won games during the group stage, the visitors have not. The trend should continue as APOEL earn the top spot in the group.

Editor's Prediction
Apoel Nicosia 2
Shakhtar Donetsk 1
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		14 4
Mario Gomez Mario Gomez
Striker
Bayern Munich 		13 0
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		10 2
Karim Benzema Karim Benzema
Striker
Real Madrid 		7 0
Didier Drogba Didier Drogba
Striker
Chelsea 		6 0