Shakhtar Donetsk vs AEK Athens FC — Tips & Analysis

Under 2.75: Two teams who are very hard to score against meet on neutral ground, and that points at a quiet night. Shakhtar are staging this game at Stamford Bridge in London, so neither side gets a crowd or a familiar pitch to lean on. Shakhtar have let in less than a goal a game across their last 14. Their only European night so far was a 1-1 at PSV, and that is the sort of evening this looks like. AEK are tighter again. They have not lost in 13 games, with 8 wins and 5 ties, and they also let in less than a goal a game. Away from Athens they go quieter still, with 3 ties in five trips, barely more than a goal scored and under a goal let in. They opened the Champions League with a 1-0 win over LASK. Neither side has to force this. Both defend in numbers, both are well drilled, and clear chances should be rare. A 1-1 is the likeliest finish, and two goals sits well inside what we want. The caution is about who they have been beating. Both records are built on weaker league and cup opponents, so those low numbers at the back may be flattering. Shakhtar have also won three in a row and score more than 2 goals a game. We still expect a low scoring game here.