Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Ahead of the final rounds of the Champions League, Shakhtar Donetsk and Stade Brestois are tackling very different challenges. While the French side are on the brink of a sensational progression to the round of 16, the Ukrainian side are far from even securing a spot in the first playoff round, making their head-to-head encounter likely to be dominated by the visitors.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar's 1:5 defeat to Bayern Munich marked their fourth loss in the past five European outings. In Gelsenkirchen, they faced 3.59 xGA with 21 attempts against them in 90 minutes, struggling to hold back Munich's attacking barrage. Shakhtar will be without the suspended Pedro Henrique (red card), and another major concern is their match fitness, having been without official fixtures since mid-December and only playing three friendlies in 2025.
Stade Brestois
Initially, it seemed Stade Brestois wouldn't manage the pressure of two concurrent tournaments, but since 10 December, they have claimed six wins in seven matches. They are currently on a three-game winning streak, with decisive contributions against Stade Rennais (2:1) on Saturday, where Abdallah Sima provided an assist off the bench (their deficit to the European qualification zone is now down to four points). In the Champions League, Stade Brestois secured four victories in six rounds, faltering only away to a blazing Barcelona side (0:3).
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Stade Brestois Prediction
Shakhtar Donetsk will attempt to impose their tempo on the French, but the favourites boast a strong bench and superior match fitness. Therefore, we are betting on Stade Brestois.
