Group D
Kick-off: 19:45 (BST)
Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu says his side must keep their focus as they face an Benfica team vying for a UEFA Cup place.
Shakhtar opened their Champions League Group D campaign in some style, recording back-to-back victories, but a subsequent run of three defeats means they go into Matchday 6 needing to win and hope that beat Celtic.
“Our biggest problem is that we tend to lose concentration at the key moments; when we conceded in the dying seconds in the Celtic match proves that,” said Lucescu.
“But I hope that will change and we will have luck on our side in the future. It is vital to maintain focus right until the very last seconds because even the slightest mistake can mean conceding a goal.”
“We have no absentees. Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Zvonimir Vukic and Brandao had minor problems but all of them should be fit to play,” said Lucescu, who also welcomes back Fernandinho from suspension.
“We have to win but let’s not forget that Benfica have the same goal. They produced top-class football in both games against Celtic and in their home tie with Milan. Benfica have improved and have gained some confidence.”
The Portuguese club require victory to snatch third position in the section and earn a place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup, although they suffered their first Liga defeat of the season at the weekend to FC Porto,
“The Porto result has not affected the condition of our team,” said José Antonio Camacho. “It is not a tragedy. We will take to the field focusing only on Shakhtar and getting the right result. We will be ready to show the best we have got to give.”
Camacho will be without the suspended Augustin Binya while Fabio Coentrao (knee) and Cristian Rodriguez (thigh) are injured.
“We will only settle for a win in Donetsk because that is our only chance of continuing in European competition this term,” he said. “The key to success will be doing what we failed to do at home against Shakhtar – taking our opportunities.”
