Shakhtar v Dortmund: Score draw the best bet as entertainers clash

Shakhtar Donetsk welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Donbass Arena in a tie which promises to be highly entertaining, and should reap goals aplenty.

The Ukrainians are 6/4 to triumph in the first leg of this Champions League round of 16 contest, and achieve what would be a third win in four European home games this term.

Backers of the hosts can take confidence from their domestic record also, where just one league defeat has emerged from 18 outings.

With that sole loss coming away from the Donbass Arena, Shakhtar have won all nine of their league games on their own patch so far.

But in 7/4 Dortmund, they will likely face their toughest test of the season so far.

The German champions have won each of the previous two meetings between the sides, and remained unbeaten in a group featuring the English, Spanish and Dutch champions to set up this bout.

They demonstrated nous to secure draws in two of their group-stage away ties, and punters envisaging another stalemate can have 23/10 about that outcome here.

What may prove a better bet though, is for a score draw to ensue, which is a 3/1 chance.

Dortmund scored and conceded in each of their away group games, whilst Shakhtar registered and were breached in four of their six early competition encounters.

With seemingly little to choose between the sides, each renowned for their aesthetically pleasing style of play, that could prove the standout bet in this tie.

Alternatively, both teams can simply be backed to find the net in the game at 8/13.

And the total result market has the potential to be profitable for punters too, with a draw featuring in excess of 2.5 goals appealing at a big 9/1.

Both sides average close to two strikes per Champions League game so far this term, and a continuation of that trend would bring a healthy return.

First scorer options look abundant in this encounter meanwhile, with many coveted European assets set to take to the field.

Shakhtar will undoubtedly miss the recently-departed Willian, but in Luiz Adriano they have a striker with three goals in five Champions League appearances this season.

Adriano is 6/1 to break the deadlock, as is Dortmund’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski, a Manchester United and Bayern Munich target.

Meanwhile, punters in search of each-way value could do worse than backing Dortmund penalty taker Mats Hummels, with the centre-half an 18/1 hope to open the scoring.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.