Other
2009-08-28 - Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Europe, UEFA Super Cup 2009
Friday, 28th August 2009 - Kickoff 19:45
Barcelona
Barcelona play in this competition after winning the Champions League last season. They are about to start their new campaign in La Liga on Monday evening and will be hard pressed to build on their success of last season when they won the treble. They have sold Eto'o in the Summer in a swap deal with Zlaten Ibrahimovic of Inter Milan.
Barcelona have already won their domestic Super Cup with a 5-1 aggregate win over Atletico Bilbao, winning both home and away. They will have been happy with the fact that Lionel Messi has got off the mark with 2 goals in those games already.
Barcelona do not have any real injury concerns for this match and it is clear from their coach Guardiola that they are fully focused on winning this match.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk will be disappointed that they will not be taking part in the Champions League this season after they were knocked out in the qualifying rounds but that will allow them to enter the Europa League and defend their crown.
Shakhtar sit in 2nd spot in the Ukranian league with their 3-1-0 record after 4 games. They have scored 10 goals in those games and only conceded 2.
They have already played 8 competitive games in domestic and European games this season and they have yet to be beaten in 90 minutes. They have won their last 3 games in all competitions with only 1 goal conceded.
I have no new team news regarding Shakhtar. However I am aware that their centre back Dmytro Chygrynskiy is close to signing for Barcelona so could be playing his farewell match tonight.
Head to Head
These 2 sides actually met in the Champions League last season at the Group Stage when both sides managed to win on the other's soil. Barcelona won 1-2 in Shakhtar while it was 2-3 to the Ukranians at the Nou Camp.
They also played 5 years ago when both sides managed to win their home games at the Group Stage of the Champions League.
Prediction
Barcelona are the Champions of Europe but will be aware that these clubs have a poor record in the Super Cup with only 4 wins from the last 11. They have a very strong team but it will be interesting to see how Ibrahimovic does as the replacement for Eto'o.
Shakhtar should be in a decent physical shape after 8 competitive games and have provided Barcelona with problems in previous matches. They are a strong team although it was a surprise to see them knocked out of the Champions League before the Group Stages.
I think this match will be close either way so I think Shakhtar will be the pick on the Asian Handicap. Zenit St Petersburg showed a level of fitness last season to beat Manchester United and I think for that reason Shakhtar should be in good shape. Barcelona have also struggled previously against the Ukranians.
The Pick :
Barcelona 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
