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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
SHAKHTAR DONETSK Rybka Srna, Kucher, Chyzhov, Shevchuk Hubschman, Jadson Eduardo, Teixeira, Willian Luiz Adriano | APOEL  Chiotis Poursaiditidis, Jorge, Oliveira, Boaventura Morais, Pinto Trickovski, Marcinho, Manduca Ailton |
APOEL are set to stick to a winning formula, naming an unchanged team to the side that beat Zenit on matchday one. Ailton, who fired the side into the group stage will continue up front, while Manduca and Trickovski, who caused Zenit so much trouble down the flanks, will keep their places for the trip to Ukraine.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Shakhtar won all of their group stage home games last year, including victories against
Arsenal and eventual Europa League finalists Sporting Braga.
- The Ukrainian side won the last ever edition of the Uefa Cup in 2008-09.
- Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu has reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League with three different teams - Inter, Galatasaray and Shakhtar last season.
- APOEL have an impressive away record in Europe, having come away from both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid with unlikely points.
- The Cypriot side's victory over Zenit was their first-ever victory in the Champions League proper.
- This is the first time these two sides have met each other in European competition.
A huge factor in APOEL's victory over Zenit was home advantage, and without the passionate GSP Stadium support, they could struggle. Beyond that, Shakhtar's stadium has become a fortress for them which saw convincing victories over the likes of Roma and Arsenal last season, and I'd expect the Ukrainian champions to cruise to victory over their ostensibly weak opposition.
Editor's Prediction
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 APOEL Nicosia 
