Football Tips

Celtic vs Shakhtar Match Preview & Betting Tips

Matchday 5 of this season’s Champions League is on the horizon, can Celtic keep their European adventure alive with a win over Shakhtar?


Last Chance Saloon

Celtic have found themselves in the European last chance saloon. Fail to win in midweek and even the consolation prize of the Europa League will have eluded them.


Win Or Bust

With VAR finally being introduced to the Scottish Premiership, its opening weekend of operation was a rather busy one. Especially at Tynecastle, as Celtic eventually got the better of Hearts in a seven-goal thriller.

A win that has provided Ange Postecoglou’s men with the ideal momentum before midweek and although their victory over Hearts was rather hard-fought, the same level of intensity will likely be required when welcoming Shakhtar.

Especially as these two teams shared the points in Warsaw and with the Ukrainian outfit currently possessing a four-point gap over their upcoming hosts, they know that a draw would secure some semblance of European football at the turn of the year.

A semblance that at the very worst will be a Europa League play-off, although a win would also turbocharge their hopes of making this season’s Round of 16 in the Champions League. A scenario which means they are not simply coming to Glasgow for a stalemate.

Something that Celtic can simply not afford themselves and if they are to keep any form of European dream alive, they are going to have to do things the incredibly hard way. A win at home is just the first step of the grand plan.

If Celtic can find their first win in this season’s Champions League, then it sets up a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid. A win would also be required against the holders and then they would have to hope the other result goes their way.

A big ask but you are still in European competition until you are officially dumped out of it and if there is a modicum of belief within the Celtic camp, they are certainly not going down without a fight.

A fight that they have been lacking since losing to Real Madrid in Matchday 1 and although the Celtic Park crowd could not help them against RB Leipzig, I have a feeling it might against Shakhtar.

Which means not only am I plumping for a home win in this fixture, I also think that Joe Hart’s goal will not be breached either. A Celtic success and both teams not to score, is currently priced at 12/5. with 888sport.

While to expand on this point further, I am also going to serve up a correct score tip. After already serving up a Celtic win and clean sheet, a 2-0 home win at odds of 9/1 is also firmly placed on my latest betting slip.

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Dan Tracey's Tip

Celtic vs Shakhtar Donetsk

A 2-0 win for The Bhoys is available at an attractive 9/1

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At 9/1 a £10 bet would return £100

Champions League 2022/23

October 25, 2022

8:00 pm GMT+1

* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.


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Dan Tracey

Dan is one of our resident football experts at Freebets, and also the host of our Freebets Odds On Podcast