This is the sixth time that Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk are featuring in the Champions League but until now they have never marched past the group stage. In 2007-08 and 2008-09 the Miners commenced their European Cup adventure with wins but failed to sustain that momentum.
Mircea Lucescu's side qualified automatically for the group stage of Europe's premier club competition but suffered a major injury setback. Brazilian playmaker Fernandinho suffered a serious leg injury in the weekend win against Obolon in the Ukrainian league and said in a statement to Shakhtar's official website:
"As many of you have probably seen during the match against Obolon, I have suffered a serious injury to my right leg that will rule me out of the action for a while.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for the support that I received including the fans, club staff and the board of directors as well as my team-mates who have been very supportive since the injury.
"I will be supporting the club off the pitch during their domestic championship campaign and the UEFA Champions League. Very soon I hope to be playing for Shakhtar again.''
Fernandinho's loss will indeed be quite a crucial one for the 2008-09 UEFA Cup winners but they will still be confident of a home win on Wednesday as they defeated Partizan 4-1 at home in the group stage of the Europa League in 2009-10.
Beginning On A High
Partizan started their European Cup adventure from the second qualifying round, easing past FC Pyunik 4-1 on aggregate. A 5-1 aggregate victory over HJK saw them reach the play-off round where they got the better of Belgian giants Anderlecht on penalties.
This will be the Serbian champions' first appearance in the Champions League group stage since 2003-04 and the mood in the camp is one of delight and hope. However, like Shakhtar they too have an injury concern as veteran defender Mladen Krstajic is recovering from a broken nose.
Coach Alexander Stanojevic says, "He insists that he can play, but I still make the final decision. When someone has such desire, then you cannot let him decide. He is our captain and has shown overwhelming desire and motivation regardless of the broken nose."
TEAM NEWS
Shakhtar Donetsk
Fernandinho is a long-term injury concern while defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy has yet to feature since August 29 when he pulled his left hamstring against Illychivets Mariupil.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pyatov, Srna, Chizkov, Rakytski, Rat; Stepanenko, Hubschman; D. Costa, Mkhitaryan, Willian; M. Moreno
Partizan
Joseph Kizito has recovered and could start on Wednesday and so should Krstajic, even though he is recovering from a broken nose.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Stojkovic, Stevanovic, Jovanovic, Krstajic, Lazevski; Tomic, Petrovic, Smiljanic, S. Ilic; Iliev, Cleo
Prediction
Shakhtar should garner maximum points from this fixture although the game against Partizan is a potential banana skin.
Shakhtar 2-0 Partizan 
