UEFA Champions League Group D Matchday 1 Predictions
Group D of the 21/22 UEFA Champions League features the 13-time winners of the competition Real Madrid, reigning Italian champions Internazionale, Ukrainian powerhouse Shakhtar Donetsk and newcomers FK Sheriff.
UCL 21/22 Group D Live Table:
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UCL 21/22 Teams Analysis
European giants, Real Madrid and Inter Milan are clearly the two strongest teams in the group. Nonetheless, Shakhtar has caused some big upsets in the past while debutants Sheriff reached the group-stage on pure merit.
Still, los blancos are EagleBet top pick for to win the Champions League 21/22 group D.
FC Internazionale Milano
Inter Milan was the first side named into Group D, being cast in Pot 1 of the Champions League draw after reaching the summit of the Serie A and ending an 11-year title drought.
But despite their on-field success Inter is struggling financially and the club’s board decided to tighten the purse-strings with a host of changes, both inside and outside the dressing-room.
Having no chance of making any big signings to improve the squad, Antonio Conte vacated his position as the manager with Simeone Inzaghi taking the job over the summer after turning Lazio into title-challengers.
It should be a good fit as tactic-wise both are quite similar, although Inzaghi is probably a bit more attack-minded; yet both also share somewhat disappointing records in the Champions League.
With skipper Samir Handanovic between the posts, Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni comprised the backbone of the best defence in the Serie A last season.
Wingback Achraf Hakimi, now of PSG, was also an integral part of the team but the club has decided to rely on Matteo Darmian in that position, making his loan-deal permanent after an impressive season.
The big issue for Inter however will be to find the goals Romelu Lukaku scored with the Belgian departing in a record transfer and the 35-year old Edin Dzeko being signed on as his immediate replacement.
Other notable arrivals include playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu from cross-town rivals AC Milan, Dutch winger Denzel Dumfries from PSV Eindhoven and Argentine forward Joaquin Correa from Lazio.
The latter has made a bright start at his new club but it is his compatriot Lautaro Martinez who will need to grab centre-stage, having become one of the most sought-after strikers during his 3 years in Italy.
Verdict: Inter is the odds on favourite to qualify from group D although that could stretch out as the competition progresses. The Nerazzurri are priced at 3.90 to win the group although the 4.00 offer for them to finish outside the top-2 is a lot more attractive as they have failed to get into the last-16 in any of the previous 3 campaigns.
EagleBet Prediction For Inter Milan: 3rd
Real Madrid CF
Like any other season in the Champions League, Real Madrid is among the contenders for the title, but only an outside one at the moment among the bookies with 15.0 odds on bet365.
Real were forced into replacing their manager after Zinedine Zidane called time on his second tenure at the club, having failed to successfully defend the La Liga title.
Carlo Ancelotti, the man who secured ‘la decima’ for los Blancos after a 12-year wait, has been recalled to the helm in a summer of upheavals for the record-champions.
Club-captain Sergio Ramos has departed to PSG in a free-transfer ending a 16-year affair with Real Madrid after the club decided against offering a new contract for the 35-year old defender.
His centre-back partner Rapahel Varane is also no longer at the club after a 40 million Euros deal to Manchester United leaving Real with a new-look defensive-pairing.
David Alaba has arrived on a free-transfer to fill in at the heart of the defence alongside Eder Militao, who has been promoted to be the first-choice centre-back.
With Casemiro and Federico Valverde providing the protection in midfield, Real has plenty of experience and creativity in forward areas with Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema.
Having attacking options such as Isco, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asenjo to come on from the bench separates Real Madrid from most teams in the competition.
Moreover, in Vinicius Junior they possess one of the best young players in Europe and the Brazilian could be the top-scorer of his side after netting 3 goals in the first 3 league-games.
Verdict: With their dazzling attacking unit, Real Madrid is the overwhelming favourite to win Group D. After getting knocked out at the semi-final stage last season, they make a good case to reach the final with a 7.00 price on bet365.
EagleBet Champions League Predictions For Real Madrid: 1st
Shakhtar Donetsk
For the 5th time in succession, Shakhtar Donetsk have made it to the Champions League group-stage although they have progressed further just once in this period.
After finishing as runners-up in the Ukrainian Premier Liga, Shakhtar defeated Belgian champions Genk and Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in the qualifying rounds.
They are currently in 2nd spot in their domestic league which starts earlier than most of Europe making them more prepared physically and tactically to battle against the bigger teams.
Two wins against the weakest side and a couple of draws against the two giants of the group could be enough to take them through to the last-16 with anything more coming as a priceless bonus.
The Shakhtar squad is comprised largely of home-grown talent and an array of Brazilian imports that may not be household names but can nevertheless combine to form an effective football team.
Lassina Traoré, a 20-year old striker from Burkina Faso is one to watch out for having scored 5 times already this season after completing a 10 million Euro move from Ajax over the summer.
Verdict: On paper, Shakhtar Donetsk appears to be the 3rd best team of Group D but the bookmakers reckon it to be a close-run thing with fairly short 2.75 odds for them to qualify. They may well be the surprise package of the group and snatch a knockout-round berth right at the end.
EagleBet Prediction For Shakthar 2nd
FC Sheriff Tiraspol
Sheriff created history by becoming the first Moldovan club to reach the group-stage of the Champions League Predictions.
They had to come through four stages of qualifying rounds going past Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb and their Serbian counterparts Red Star Belgrade.
But in these uncharted waters, finishing anywhere but last would be a monumental achievement considering the challenges that lie ahead in the coming weeks.
Sheriff Tiraspol has won their domestic league 19 times including the 9 previous campaigns and has competed in the Europa on a few occasions.
Verdict: The 11.0 odds on Sherrif to make it past the group-stage give a fair reflection of their chances. Any points they can gather will be more than deserved which might cause a ripple-effect in Group D.
EagleBet Prediction For FC Sheriff: 4th
Match Day 1 Betting Tips & Predictions
FC Sheriff v Shakhtar Donetsk Group D Matchday 1 Predictions
Highest Scoring Half: 2nd Half at 2.04 with NEO.BET
Half Time/Full Time: Draw/Shakhtar at 4.50 with bet365
EagleBet Score Prediction: Sheriff 1-2 Shakhtar
Inter Milan v Real Madrid Predictions
1st Half Result: Draw at 2.04 with NEO.BET
1st Goal-scorer: Karim Benzema at 5.00 with bet365
EagleBet Score Prediction: Inter Milan 1-1 Real Madrid
Dates and Times Group D
15.09.2021 | 18:45
FC Sheriff -:- Shakhtar Donetsk
15.09.2021 | 21:00
Inter Milan -:- Real Madrid
28.09.2021 | 18:45
Shakhtar Donetsk -:- Inter Milan
28.09.2021 | 21:00
Real Madrid -:- FC Sheriff
19.10.2021 | 21:00
Shakhtar Donetsk -:- Real Madrid
Inter Milan -:- FC Sheriff
03.11.2021 | 18:45
Real Madrid -:- Shakhtar Donetsk
03.11.2021 | 21:00
FC Sheriff -:- Inter Milan
24.11.2021 | 18:45
Inter Milan -:- Shakhtar Donetsk
24.11.2021 | 21:00
FC Sheriff -:- Real Madrid
07.12.2021 | 21:00
Real Madrid -:- Inter Milan
Shakhtar Donetsk -:- FC Sheriff
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