BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Vinicius Junior Real Madrid 2022-23Getty

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk: Champions League Week 3 Odds & Best Bets

This will be the third consecutive year that Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk will face off in the Champions League group stage. Los Blancos won both matchups last season but lost the two fixtures in 2020-2021.

The good news for the Madridistas is the return of Karim Benzema. He returned for Madrid’s match against Osasuna this past weekend but missed a penalty in the 79th minute that would’ve given them the victory.

Shakhtar are off to a great start in the UCL this season and have put themselves in a good position to advance out of the group stage. They won their first matchup on the road against RB Leipzig and fought to a 1-1 draw against Celtic at home in their second game.

Article continues below

With four points, they are right behind Real Madrid in the group standings.

Let’s look at the betting odds for the match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Ani Sridhar’s 2022-23 Soccer Betting Record: 12-11 (+3.4 units)

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk Odds

  • 3-Way Handicap: Real Madrid (-550) | Draw (+700) | Shakhtar Donetsk (+1350)
  • Over/Under Goals: Over 3.5 ( -110) | Under 3.5 (-130)
  • Both Teams to Score: Yes (+100) | No (-140)

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk odds and all stats included in this article are current as of Monday, Oct. 3, at BetMGM Sportsbook.

With the return of Benzema to the Madrid lineup, the oddsmakers believe this will be a high-scoring match. The Santiago Bernabéu is a very hard venue for an away team to win a match so there is no surprise that Real Madrid are heavy favorites to extend their Group F lead on Wednesday.

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tips

Real Madrid should dominate this game and expose the Shakhtar defense. Madrid have not conceded in the Champions League so far this season but are yet to keep a clean sheet in their seven La Liga games this season.

The Madridistas have won six consecutive UCL group stage matches and have only conceded one goal in that interval. The Shakhtar game plan will be focusing on the counter attack and relying on the speed and talent of their wingers, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Marian Shved.

Shakhtar will not retain much possession in this game similar to the Celtic match but can be dangerous on the counter attack. Madrid will be pressing forward for a majority of the game with their 4-3-3 lineup building on the wings and trying to work the ball back into the middle where Benzema will be waiting to punch it in.

This should be a high-scoring game in Madrid on Wednesday, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the visitors get on the score sheet, as well.

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction

Real Madrid 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

The Over total goals is firmly in play in this contest as Madrid will be on the attack for a majority of the game. The skill set Mudryk possesses will be a problem for Dani Carvajal on the right side of the Madrid defense. This will be an exciting game with some of the best young wingers in the world on display.

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk Best Bets

Both Teams to Score: Yes (+100) at BetMGM Sportsbook

WAGER: 1 Unit

Despite not conceding a goal yet in the Champions League, the Real Madrid defense is not as strong as it looks on paper. They were lucky to not concede against Celtic who had a few great looks on goal and had a shot hit the woodwork.

Shakhtar might not get a lot of great opportunities in this match but their counter attack will provide them with a couple of chances and they have the finishing talent up front to capitalize.

Real Madrid to win and Over 3.5 combined goals scored (+110) at BetMGM Sportsbook

WAGER: 1 Unit

The Madrid offense should roll against Shakhtar, and they can easily score four goals at home. The return of Benzema to the offense will improve the attack and alongside Vinícius Jr. he should find the back of the net in this contest.

Advertisement