Barcelona vs. Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tips: Gundogan a generous price in the assist market

Barcelona will look to continue their perfect start to the Champions League group stage when they take on Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

Xavi’s side emerged victorious in their most recent group stage fixture, securing a 1-0 win against Porto, with Ferran Torres scoring the only goal of the game. Impressively, the Catalans are now unbeaten in their last 13 matches across all competitions, with 10 wins and 3 draws. 

Shakhtar are still having to deal with the issue of having to play their home matches in Hamburg due to the ongoing war in their home country. They sit third in the Ukrainian Premier League and after defeat at home to Porto in Matchday 1, they got their first win of the Champions League group stage with a 3-2 away win against Royal Antwerp.

Two weeks ago 16-year-old Lamine Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history, with the teenager finding the net as his side came from two goals down to rescue a point against Granada. 

It has been quite the year for Yamal who at 15 years and 290 days made his Barcelona debut as a substitute in April. He then went on to become the youngest player to represent the Spanish national side and also became their youngest goalscorer by bagging the 7-1 win over Georgia in Euro 2024 qualification. 

In the Champions League, he became the youngest player to start a game when being named in the starting XI against Porto in matchday 2, and should he find the net against Shakhtar at the Olympic Stadium he would become the youngest scorer in the history of the competition.

With Robert Lewandowski out injured, there should be a slot in the front three for the youngster and it does just feel like the stars are aligning for yet another record to be broken here. In his last 189 minutes on the pitch, he has let off seven shots and can be backed at 19/10 to score anytime against Shakhtar.

After conceding two goals against Royal Antwerp and three against Porto already in this group stage, we think this may be a chance for Barcelona to let the handbrake off a little bit.

In both of Barcelona’s European outings so far this term Ilkay Gundogan has registered an assist. Should the former Manchester City man do so on Wednesday he would be the first player to do so for the club since Andres Iniesta back in 2014. 

Sky bet go a stand-out best-price for Gundogan to record an assist at 3/1, with other firms such as bet365 taking a more considerate approach at 6/4.