Alright, let's delve into the nitty-gritty of this Champions League clash—Shakhtar Donetsk scooting around the pitch against Atalanta.
At first glance, your eyes might gravitate towards Atalanta's goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. With an average rating of 7.10 and 2 saves, he's no slouch. That being said, Shakhtar Donetsk's goalie isn't exactly wearing clown shoes; Dmytro Riznyk boasts an 8.10 rating with 5 saves to his name. This duel in the box could decide the outcome.
Turning our attention to some leading lads, Atalanta are graced with players like Sead Kolašinac (7.40 rating, 91.2% accurate passing) and Isak Hien (7.30 rating, 87.7% accurate passing). Sliding under the radar could be Ademola Lookman, who, despite a lesser 7.00 rating, registers an impressive 96% pass accuracy.
Lo and behold, we don't possess the gift of invisibility for Shakhtar Donetsk's top rats. Mykola Matviyenko with a 7.60 rating and Pedrinho with the same rating—playing peekaboo amidst the defenders. Their accurate passing is respectable, though Matviyenko's 86.7% outshines Pedrinho's 79.6%.
Now let's take a step back in time and brush the dust off some recent results. Atalanta left their shooting boots at home against Arsenal, ending at nil-apiece. Shakhtar Donetsk on the flip side, piped Bologna in an uneventful 0-0, danced with FC Porto in a high-scoring 5-3 loss, and chiseled out 1-0 wins against Royal Antwerp FC and Barcelona.
In the citadel of math and probabilities, it's tempting to side with Atalanta, but endorsing Shakhtar Donetsk isn't like painting your house in fluorescent pink—ridiculous; it's got its merit.
So for the love of spreads, payouts, and brisk nuggets of wisdom, I deliver to you this verdict:
Albert’s Prediction: Atalanta by 1