SHAKHTAR DONETSK

League position: 2nd
Head coach: Luis Castro
European top-scorer: Manor Solomon, Tete (2)

RECENT FORM

Shakhtar: L L W L W
Roma: L W W W L

Hosts Shakhtar hit four as they swept aside Desna 4-0 in the Premier Liga on Sunday, with Solomon and Tete both grabbing braces.

That provided a second league victory on the bounce for Castro’s side, but their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Europa League are not looking so rosy after Roma’s dominant victory at the Olimpico one week ago.

Roma's three-game winning streak came to an end in a surprise defeat to Serie A strugglers Parma on Sunday, but the Giallorossi can’t dwell on that for long as they make the trip to Kiev.

Stowed away in their luggage is a 3-0 lead from the first leg that means any Roma goal will leave the Ukrainian hosts needing to score at least five times to have any chance of progressing.

DANGER MAN
Manor Solomon

Last week, it was Junior Moraes that we highlighted and, if not for a superb Pau Lopez performance, the Ukraine international would most likely have left the Italian capital with two goals to his name.

The 33-year-old will again pose a threat to the Roma defence, but 21-year-old Solomon could prove the difference.

Solomon scored in each of a pair of victories over record Champions League winners Real Madrid in the group stages of this year’s tournament and his double at the weekend was a strong reminder of his talent.

Solomon was among the substitutes at the Olimpico and could well be so again on Thursday but, whatever his role is, the Israel international has proven already this season just how capable he is of scoring big goals for his side.

MATCH STATS

Roma have made it through in 20 of their last 22 European knockout matches after winning the first leg, exiting after first leg victories against only Manchester United in 2006-07 and Porto in 2018-19 - both in the Champions League.

If they reach the quarter-finals, Roma will make it to the last eight of a European competition for the first time since 2017-18 when they eliminated Barcelona in the UCL and eventually exited in the semi-final.

English outfit Arsenal (15) are the only team in this year’s UEL competition with more different scorers than Roma (14).

Over the course of three fixtures between these two sides in Ukraine, the hosts have won all three previous meetings at home meaning Roma are chasing their first away victory over Shakhtar.

PLAYER STATS

• Stephan El Shaarawy found the back of the net in the first leg and could score in two consecutive European knockout fixtures for the first time in his career.
  
• Pau Lopez has the best save percentage (88%) of any goalkeeper in the UEL this term.
  
• Borja Mayoral has scored five times in the UEL this season, with only four other players scoring more in the competition in 2020-21 so far.
  
• Lorenzo Pellegrini’s strike a week ago was his first Europa League goal for the Giallorossi and sixth of the season in all competitions.

WHAT THEY SAID

"We always want to see our fans. Fans are the heart of every football game. They give us comfort and are the most important part of every match. We always play for the fans. Of course, it will be really pleasant and important for us if people fill up the Olimpiyskiy in the return match against Roma."

- Shakhtar coach Luis Castro