Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sporting Lisbon 3 November 2026 Prediction

Shakhtar vs Sporting takes place at Stamford Bridge in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase. Both teams lost their previous European matches and need points to improve their chances of reaching the knockout rounds.

Shakhtar: Adjusting Without Pedrinho

Shakhtar have four points from three Champions League matches. They drew with PSV (1-1), beat AEK (3-1) and lost to Inter (0-1), despite having a man advantage late in the Inter match. Domestic wins over Dynamo Kyiv (3-0) and Obolon (2-0) followed, but Sporting will pose a tougher attacking challenge.

Pedrinho is unavailable after undergoing surgery for a thigh injury. He has been an important creative player, leaving manager Arda Turan to adjust his attack. Turan has mentioned Isaque, Newerton and Alisson as options. Alisson has scored three goals in his last two matches. Eguinaldo is also out as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Shakhtar will be the designated home team in London, without their usual home advantage.

Sporting: Attacking Strength

Sporting opened the league phase with wins over Galatasaray (3-1) and Lens (2-0), then lost at home to LASK (2-3). Against LASK, the Lisbon side had 62% possession and 16 shots, and led 3.24 to 1.12 in expected goals. Rui Borges’ team then lost 1-2 to Académico de Viseu in the Primeira Liga before beating Marítimo (2-1) in the League Cup and Casa Pia (2-0) in the league.

Shakhtar’s defense will need to watch Suárez. The forward has scored in three straight Champions League matches, including twice against LASK. That loss also exposed problems at the other end: Sporting conceded three goals to a tournament newcomer. Manager Rui Borges will be without Debast, Salazar and Santos, while Irankunda is questionable with a knee injury.

Shakhtar vs Sporting Predicted Lineup

Shakhtar (4-3-3): Riznyk – Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, P. Henrique – Karavayev, M. Gomes, Ocheretko – Alisson, Elias, Mendoza

Unavailable: M. Santos, Eguinaldo, Pedrinho (injured); Tvardovskyi, Matturro (not in the squad)

Manager: Arda Turan

Sporting (4-2-3-1): Pereira – Fresneda, Quaresma, Inácio, Araújo – Altimira, Doumbia – Catamo, Simões, F. Gonçalves – Suárez

Unavailable: Debast, Salazar, Santos (injured); Irankunda (questionable)

Manager: Rui Borges

Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)

Kruzliak has officiated 11 matches in all competitions this season, averaging four yellow cards and 24 fouls per game. He has also shown three red cards and awarded six penalties.

Shakhtar vs Sporting Prediction: Sporting to Win

Main pick: Sporting have the stronger attack, led by Suárez, who has scored 12 goals in his last 11 club appearances, including four in three Champions League matches. Without Pedrinho, Shakhtar may struggle to create chances, and playing in London removes their usual home advantage. The pick is Sporting to win at 1.92.

Goals pick: Sporting have scored 32 goals in 14 matches across all competitions, an average of 2.28 per game, but have conceded six in their last four. Shakhtar are averaging two goals per game this season and have scored against both PSV and AEK in the Champions League. The pick is over 3.5 goals at 2.62.