English champions Manchester City switch focus back to the Champions League in midweek with a trip to Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Citizens got off the mark with their first Group F win at the second attempt in their most recent European outing, but they still have plenty of work to do if they are to finish in a top-two spot.
Shakhtar Donetsk
© ReutersShakhtar blew a two-goal lead with 20 minutes remaining away at Lyon three weeks ago to leave themselves on two points from their first two outings, having also played out a four-goal draw with Hoffenheim in their opener.
Unlike against Hoffenheim, when Maycon struck in the final 10 minutes to rescue a share of the spoils, Shakhtar will consider the result at the Groupama Stadium earlier this month a wasted opportunity.
The tight nature of Group F as we approach the midway stage means that the Pitmen are still very much in the mix for qualification, however, trailing pacesetters Lyon by two points and finding themselves just a point behind next opponents City.
With back-to-back games against the Citizens to prepare for, before travelling to Hoffenheim on November 27 and hosting Lyon on December 12, Paulo Fonseca's men still have a real shot of progressing past the group phase for a fourth time in six attempts.
Quarter-finalists in 2010-11, Shakhtar boast a decent record when it comes to making it to the last-16 stage, where they were beaten by Roma on away goals last season.
En route to the last 16, the 11-time Ukrainian champions stunned City with a 2-1 win in Kharkiv to finish second to their opponents in a tough group that also contained Feyenoord and a much-fancied Napoli side.
Shakhtar won all four of their home Champions League matches in 2017-18, in fact, and they have now lost just one of their last 15 European matches on Ukrainian soil, with 11 of those ending in victory.
The Pitmen have not kept a clean sheet across their last six continental games here, however, which could spell bad news against a free-scoring Man City side.
Recent form in Champions League: DD
Recent form (all competitions): DWWDDW
Manchester City
© ReutersCity's Champions League campaign belatedly kicked into gear with a 2-1 win against Hoffenheim at the start of October, as a late David Silva strike capped a good comeback win after falling behind inside the opening minute in Germany.
That was a much-needed victory for Pep Guardiola's men, coming on the back of a defeat by the same scoreline to Lyon in their opening Group F match.
Defeat to the French side prompted criticism from Guardiola, who also felt the need to hit out at his attackers for their supposed profligacy in a 3-0 win over Fulham four days beforehand.
If that setback was a wake-up call for the reigning Premier League champions, then they have certainly responded in style. In the six matches since then, City have won five and drawn one, with the only blemish - if you can call it that - being a 0-0 stalemate at Anfield.
Furthermore, the Citizens have racked up 17 goals and conceded just one in that time; Ishak Belfodil's early strike in the 2-1 win at Hoffenheim the only goal City have shipped since September 19.
There is a sense that Guardiola's men are still not considered a serious force on the continent, however, having won just two of their last seven European matches and lost the other five.
Two of those defeats came at the hands of Liverpool in their quarter-final double-header last season, seeing the Citizens fall short of matching their best-ever finish in this competition from 2016 when losing to Real Madrid in the semis.
Now in their eighth consecutive season in UEFA's premier competition, it is time for City to carry their domestic form - nine wins and two draws from 11 league and cup outings - onto the biggest stage of them all.
Recent form in Champions League: LW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWDW
Team News
© ReutersGuardiola opted to leave Raheem Sterling on the bench for the full 90 minutes of Saturday's 5-0 win over Burnley, possibly with an eye on the upcoming games with Shakhtar and Tottenham Hotspur.
Sterling looks certain to return to the starting lineup in midweek, possibly in place of Leroy Sane after his 90-minute runout against the Clarets, while Kevin De Bruyne is in contention for a first start since August after recovering from a knee injury.
Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and Danilo all remain doubtful, meanwhile, so Guardiola may be tempted to go with a similar XI that saw off Burnley with ease, although the early indications are that Walker's injury layoff is nothing serious.
In terms of the hosts, who have scored 26 goals in their last nine league games and conceded five, their main threat will come through summer arrival Junior Moraes, the scorer of 12 goals in 15 matches this term.
Moraes netted both goals in the away draw with Lyon when flanked by Taison and Marlos, which may remain the case for this visit of second-placed Man City.
However, skipper Taison injured his knee in the 1-1 draw with Zorya Luhansk on October 7 and is therefore doubtful for this match, so Fernando is an option in that attacking midfield position if the Brazilian ace is deemed unfit to start.
Shakhtar Donetsk possible starting lineup:
Pyatov; Matvyenko, Krivstov, Rakitskiy, Ismaily; Maycon, Stepanenko; Marlos, Patrick, Taison; Moraes
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy; David Silva, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling
Head To Head
Shakhtar and Man City were paired together in last season's group stage for the first time, with both sides coming out on top on home soil.
The Citizens were 2-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium in September 2017, with De Bruyne and Sterling registering on the night, while the Pitmen ended Man City's unbeaten start to the season with their 2-1 triumph in the reverse fixture.
Shakhtar are unbeaten in eight meetings with English opposition on home soil, and City have won once in three attempts in Ukraine.
We say: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Manchester City
Both sides are reigning champions of their domestic leagues and both are in good overall form heading into Tuesday's tie. It is all to play for in Group F after two rounds of matches, and another tight game can be expected in this third meeting between the sides in the past 13 months.
