Having both conceded four goals in their opening matches, Shakhtar Donetsk and Olympiakos both know that a second defeat would effectively end their chances.
“The match is of great importance,” said coach Mircea Lucescu.
“The team that loses cannot really retain any realistic hope of picking up one of the top spots in the group. It’s the strongest section in this season’s competition.
“The group is very balanced and there is no need to pay much attention to the Matchday 1 results – only a lack of experience prevented us and Olympiakos from taking points.”
Lucescu is able to call upon Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem after two weeks out with a knee problem, but Serhiy Tkachenko and Dmytro Chygrynskiy are both injured.
For Olympiakos, Rivaldo faces a late fitness test, with Milos Mari? on stand-by should the Brazilian drop out.
The Olympiakos coach Trond Sollied is definitely without midfielder Pantelis Kafes and right-back Micha? ?ew?akow.
After their opening day defeat, Sollied admits he would be happy with a draw tonight.
“To tell the truth, I’d be happy with a draw because we’ll play at home to Shakhtar in the last game of the group stage,” said the coach.
“Olympiakos have never won away from home in the UEFA Champions League. But remember, everything happens for the first time at some stage.”
Probable teams
Shakhtar:
Dmytro Shutkov; Darijo Srna, Tomáš Hübschman, Mariusz Lewandowski, Razvan Rat; Elano Blumer, Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Igor Duljaj, Matuzalem; Emmanuel Okoduwa, Ciprian Marica.
Olympiakos:
Antonios Nikopolidis; Georgios Anatolakis, Júlio César, Abdeslam Ouaddou; Anastasios Pantos, Ieroklis Stoltidis, Rivaldo/Miloš Mari?, Predrag Djordjevi?, Grigoris Georgatos; Michalis Konstantinou, Nery Alberto Castillo.
