Donetsk, Feb 13: Shakhtar Donetsk have lacked competitive football since their final UEFA Champions League group stage match but coach Mircea Lucescu is believes is squad are in the right shape to face Borussia Dortmund. Shakhtar were in training camps in Spain and the United Arab Emirates during the Ukranian winter break.
Although Dotmund lost their previous Bundesliga tie, coach Jurhen Klopp is confident his players will compete well if they perform at their best. Group D winners Dortmund have a chance to make it to the quarter-final for the first time since 1998.
The Bundesliga side remained unbeaten in the group stages overcoming giants such as Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax, while Shakhtar finished second ahead of reigning European champions Chelsea.
Shakhtar have been playing a series of freindlies to keep players in full match fitness. They have won 10 games out 12 but Dortmund will be tougher test for the Urkranian outfit.
Dortmund have also been in similar form in the Bundesliga. Klopp's side beat Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen, Nurnberg and Leverkusen but were shocked 4-1 by Hamburger at the weekend.
Team News
Shakhtar do not face any injury concerns but will miss the services of Brazilian forward Willian, who was sold to Anzhi Makhachkala for £30million. Shakhtar welcome new signing Taison, who joined the side from Metalist Kharkiv and Luiz Adriano returns to the team after being handed one-match ban for unsporting conduct against Nordjaelland.
Dortmund will be without defender Patrick Owmoyela and Keven Grobkreutz through injuries. IlKay Gundogan has not travelled to Donetsk due to thigh problem. Full backs Lukasz Piszczek and Marcel Schmelzer will be given a late fitnes test.
Trivia:
* Shakhtar have not played competitive football since November.
* Shakhtar have recorded only one home loss in the group stages, a 1-0 defeat to Juventus.
* Borussia Dortmund have been unbeaten in the group stages.
Probable Lineups:
Shakhtar Donetsk (4-2-3-1): Pyatov-Rat, Chygrynskiy, Rakitskiy, Srna-Taison, Fernandinho, Stepanenko, Alex Teixeira-Mkhitaryan, Luiz Adriano
Borussia Dortmund (4-3-3): Weidenfeller-Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer-Blaszczykowski, Kehl, S. Bender-Gotze, Lewandowski, Reus
