Football Previews
Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu believes his side having to play their Champions League games away from home will not hit their chances of progressing from Group H.
Shakhtar meet Porto on Tuesday in Lviv, where they could well be based for the duration of their campaign due to ongoing military activity in their home city.
A sell-out 35,000 crowd is expected at the Lviv Arena and Lucescu told a press conference: “It is not easy but we should adapt to the situation and be prepared for the games.
“We don’t find it easy but we have Porto ahead of us and whether we are playing at home or away is not important.
“We are very happy to come to Lviv. Tomorrow there will be a full house and this is confirmation that Shakhtar is a club for the whole of Ukraine.”
Shakhtar currently sit second in the Ukrainian Premier League and are still smarting from last week’s ‘home’ defeat to lowly Zorya in Kiev.
Opponents Porto are also yet to find top gear in their domestic competition this season, having stumbled to two straight draws in the Primeira Liga.
Those results against Boavista and Sporting Lisbon are in start contrast to their performance in their opening Champions League Group H fixture, when they hammered BATE Borisov 6-0.
Porto coach Julen Lopetegui has named midfielder Juan Quintero, winger Ricardo and goalkeeper Ricardo Nunes in his squad for the trip to Lviv, while defender Maicon returns from suspension.
But Ricardo Quaresma has been left out of the travelling party after being substituted at half-time in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Sporting.
Please Gamble Responsibly