Shakhtar – Sporting de Lisboa: preview
We provide predictions for the match between Shakhtar and Sporting de Lisboa in the fourth round of the common phase of the Champions League 2026/27 season. In the fourth round of the Champions League, representatives from Ukraine and Portugal will face each other. "Shakhtar" aims to secure important points in the fight for a playoff spot, while "Sporting" seeks rehabilitation after the failure of the previous round.
Key points
Shakhtar
1. "Shakhtar" is in good spirits and is preparing for European clubs
Ard Turan's players had a good start in the Champions League: they drew 1:1 with PSV, beat AEK 3:1, and only in the third round did they fail to earn points, losing away to Inter 0:1. Although there they could have also expected at least a draw, they also played with superiority from the 68th minute.
After that match the "mountaineers" did not lose. The unbeaten streak totals 283 minutes. Last week the team reached the Ukrainian Cup semi‑final, crushing Dynamo Kyiv 3:0, and in the UPL beat Obolon 2:0, leading the title race.
2. The "mountaineers" signed Prosper Oba in the Champions League instead of Pedrinho
Pedrinho's injury in Milan proved serious. The Donchans requested UEFA to replace the player on the list. Prosper Oba will have the opportunity to shine on the international stage. The other Shakhtar leaders are fit, rested over the weekend, and in the UPL the second team played before the Champions League. The new Brazilian addition Alisson Santana entered as a substitute and scored a brace. During the match also appeared Vinícius Tobias, Marlon Gomes and Glácer Mendoza; in London they are expected in the lineup, as are the rested Nikolai Matvienko and Caun Elías, and those who played the full match in the UPL Dmitri Riznyk and Valeriy Bondar. In general, in Europe Ard Turan plays with a single squad; in the next match, replacing Pedrinho, they could field Isaque or Yegor Nazarín.
3. Shakhtar has learned to play defensively
The "mountaineers" are a young yet experienced team in European clubs. Last season they reached the Conference League semi‑final but were eliminated by poor performance in their goal. Now the team is more organized defensively. In the opening Champions League matches, the Donchans allowed opponents only ten shots on goal in total, an average of three per game. Offensively, Shakhtar has no problems: in 2026 in European clubs they missed only once in nine matches. Ard Turan found balance in their team's play.
Sporting de Lisboa
1. The "Lion" recovered from a series of failures
The "Lions" suffered a sensational loss in the last Champions League match against LA SCU at home (2:3). The team controlled the ball, shot more at goal, but failed to finish and made defensive errors. That defeat was the first for the Portuguese this season, followed by a league loss to Académico de Viseu (1:2). Sporting recovered quickly and last week secured two victories: in the League Cup against Marítimo (2:1), advancing to the semi‑final, and in the Primeira Liga beat Casa Pia (2:0). In the Champions League, the Portuguese have six points after three matches and good chances of reaching the playoffs.
2. The Portuguese suffer regular losses in the squad
The "Lions" will not have Nuno Santos, Zeno Debast and Rodrigo Salazar in the next match due to injuries. The first two are in the dressing room, the Uruguayan left the team early last month, and the squad has adapted to playing without him. It is worth noting that in October Sporting's first number was the young Brazilian Kaike Pereira. In the Champions League Rui Borges rarely changes the lineup. The defense is stable, in attack they rely on the trio Luis Suárez, Geni Catamu and Nestor Irankunda. In midfield, Isa Dumba and Juan Simónson rest in the league, and in the CL we will see them in the lineup along with the indispensable Sergio Altamira for the Portuguese.
3. Sporting rarely loses, but recently there are doubts about their defense
The Portuguese have never lost at home this season. The series began on 22 March, with seven wins and five draws. The "Lions" are productive, whether at home or away. In the Champions League they consistently score at least two goals. However, the Portuguese defense is unreliable: only in four of the last 14 matches did they keep a clean sheet.
Approximate lineups
4-1-4-14-2-3-131Riznyk13Pedrinho22Matvienko5Bondar17Tobias27Ocheretko77Mendoza6Gomes14Isaque30Santana9Elías30Pereira22Freireda72Quarezma25Inasiu20Araújo77Dumba5Altamira10Catamu8Simónson19Irankunda97Suárez
Trend bets
Total over 2.5 played in seven of the last ten Shakhtar matches and in six of the last nine Sporting matches. Bet: TB2,5 at 1.71.
"Shakhtar" did not lose in five of the last seven home Champions League matches. "Sporting" won only two of the last ten away Champions League matches. Bet: F1(0) at 2.67.
Forecast
Shakhtar vs Sporting de Lisboa 03.11.2026 21:45
Both teams dominate in their home stadiums, playing offensive and fast football. In the Champions League they started with confidence but slipped in the previous round. If the "mountaineers"' defeats before the Milan match were expected, the Portuguese surprised by losing at home to LA SCU. The next match will open the path for the winner to the playoffs, while the loser will complicate their tournament prospects. The attack is a strength for both teams, but in defense the Ukrainians seem more stable, although they have conceded in each Champions League game, unlike the Portuguese, who played to zero with Lans. But if we look at the overall season statistics, the Ard Turan lads are more reliable. The rivals are similar in style; I think the match will be balanced, with goals from both sides and points distribution.
Forecast: 1-1
