Shakhtar v Juventus

The betting has got very interesting for this fixture with the bookies convinced that a mutually satisfactory draw will be played out at odds of just 10/11 with PaddyPower. That outcome would see both Shakhtar and Juventus progress at the expense of reigning champions Chelsea.

I can certainly see where that train of thought is coming from but the situation isn’t quite the same for both teams and that could make a difference. The hosts take to the pitch knowing that qualification is assured whereas the visitors assume they will need at least a point. This could just make the Italians slightly more purposeful and a 1-0 win for Juventus looks like the value play at best odds of 14/1 with Bet365.

The Serie A giants won their domestic league without losing a game in 2011-12 and they are back on top again this season. As good as Shakhtar are, it’s Antonio Conte’s team that has the greatest experience of these sort of big games and the likes of Pirlo and Vidal could snatch top spot from under the Ukranians’ noses.