Shakhtar Donetsk and Lyon will face a meeting that, given the context, will be a final. Who wins, will follow to the "eighth" of this edition of the Champions League. Shakhtar Donetsk are compelled to beat Lyon if they want to secure access to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds. The Ukrainian team, coached by Portugal's Paul Fonseca, are in third place on Group F with five points, two behind Hoffenheim and two behind Lyon, meaning Shakhtar can secure access to the next round in the best of hypothesis and, at worst, you may even be left out of the European tests. Defeated in both duels with Manchester City (0-3, 6-0), Shakhtar equalized with Hoffenheim at home (2-2), went to draw for the same numbers to Lyon and won in Germany by three balls to two, in a victory won "in the fall of the cloth". Exception to the duels with the City, Shakhtar made at least two goals in each one of the meetings that disputed in this Champions League. Júnior Moraes has been in great form, a player who previously represented the rival Dynamo of Kiev and currently integrates the strong contingent "Canarinho" of Shakhtar. Fernando is the only player in doubt for this match and Shakhtar will be on the pitch with his usual starters. Champions League Lyon remain undefeated in the current edition of the Champions League and maintaining that status in this final round will suffice to stamp the passport to the "eighth" of the competition. The Gallic lineup occupies the second place of the table with seven points and a draw will serve its pretensions in that to the access to the "oitavos" of the competition concerns. Although this scenario is highly unlikely, the Gaules team still have a chance to finish the group in the first position, having won at the home of leaders Manchester City (1-2) and drew in the reception of the English champions . To do so, he would have to win and wait for City to lose to Hoffenheim, a very unlikely scenario. Lyon are not expected to try to "hold" the draw in Ukraine, because that is not the nature of the Gallic team. The French will enter the field of view on all three points and looking to score, just as they did in the rest of the Champions League. Lyon have conceded two goals in each of their five games in the competition and that's a statistic to keep. Before the visit to Ukraine, Lyon were surprised at home by Rennes, losing two balls to zero. The context of the Champions League is totally distinct and there will be no lack of motivation for the Ukrainian team in this challenge. Looking at the characteristics of the two teams in contention and the quality that both present in the last third of the terrain, both are likely to get to the goal.     Shakhtar Donetsk vs Lyon Prediction: X/2 5.50 Shakhtar Donetsk vs Lyon  Betting Tip: Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Shakhtar Donetsk vs Lyon Score Recommendations: 1-2 10.00  

Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow face each other on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu, a challenge to be played in Group G of the Champions League. Real Madrid have the first place of this assured group and can enter here without pressure, already focusing on the game with Rayo Vallecano at the weekend. On the other side arrives a CSKA Moscow that dispute here the last game of 2018, and looks for to close the year with a good result. Real Madrid occupy the first place with 12 points, fruit of 4 victories and 1 defeat, with partial of 12 goals scored and 2 conceded goals. The only defeat of the Merengues in Group G came to the hands of this CSKA Moscow, still in the second round of the event, and since then the team has redeemed itself and won the following 3. Under the orders of Santiago Solari, Real Madrid played only the last two in the competition, won in Plzen (0-5), and then in AS Roma (0-2). The Merengues have the first place in this grouping assured, and can shift their focus to Saturday's game against Rayo Vallecano, for the championship. However, to play at home with the support of their public, the Madrilenians will never play for the draw, much less after receiving the team responsible for the only defeat in Group G. With 1st place assured, Santiago Solari will make some changes and give minutes to other players, being Federico Valverde, Lucas Vazquez or Mariano can take place at eleven, such as Keylor Navas. Nacho is confirmed low, injured, and Casemiro is in doubt. Even though you can enter with an initial eleven with several changes, the Merengues continue to have a team of high individual quality, and collective. Champions LeagueThe CSKA Moscow, meanwhile, is in last place with 4 points, fruit of 1 victory, 1 tie and 3 losses, with partial of 5 goals scored and 9 conceded goals. The Russians scored only in the first two rounds of this group, away against Plzen (2-2) and then at home against Real Madrid (1-0), losing the following 3 challenges. There is still a chance for CSKA to remain in European competition, which means it is dependent on a better result than Plzen, who host AS Roma, as they both have 4 points, but the Czechs are ahead in the match direct. This will be the last game of the year for CSKA Moscow, who will only once again compete for the Russian championship in March, and the team will want to enter the winter break with a victory over mighty Real Madrid. Out of doors, CSKA have won only 1 of the last 4 games, and this is an always complicated trip. Viktor Vasin, injured, is confirmed low, doubting Mario Fernandes, Akhmetov, Dzagoev and Abel Hernández. The Russians need to take advantage of Real Madrid to have nothing to fight for, and seek to score here, as that is the only way to keep alive the hope of advancing to the Europa League. The Russians come here needing to score so that they have the chance to move forward in the competition, but they play in a difficult redoubt against an opponent with great individuality, even in the usual eleven. Real Madrid are favorites to win, and so should do with some ease.   Real Madrid vs CSKA Moscow Prediction: 1/1 1.50 Real Madrid vs CSKA Moscow  Betting Tip: Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.00 Real Madrid vs CSKA Moscow  Score Recommendations: 3-1 12.00    

Benfica takes off from this edition of the Champions League at the Estádio da Luz. The incarnates already have their "destiny traced" and will continue their European route in the Europa League. So, it remains to close this last round trying to reach the victory that always brings prestige and also a good financial reward. He receives the AEK which proved the most fragile team label of this group E. For the Greeks, the only doubt will be whether or not they finish this stage with or without points. Benfica fell again in the group stage, and this season with opponents who, in theory, would be within their reach, such as Ajax and AEK. However, direct confrontation with the Dutch was fatal to the eagles. In the match in Amsterdam, Benfica lost even at the drop of the cloth, and in the Stadium of Light Benfica did not get better than a draw to a goal. Thus, the incarnates add only 4 points, which is very little to see Ajax with 11 and Bayern with 13. Rui Vitória approached this game and will make some changes, taking into account the future commitments, to accomplish. Even though Benfica even has some players usually substitute, the quality is a lot, as are the cases of João Félix, Gabriel, Yuri Ribeiro, among others. Another very important issue is the importance of the eagles staying on the winning track, since the recovery that the team has done after the "episode" Rui Vitória is still tenuous. Benfica will have a good test here to prove they have quality on their squad. Champions LeagueThe AEK proved to be a "team apart" in this group E, but because of the fragility it presents. The Greeks add up by defeats all 5 games, so the expectation will be to see if they can score. Without fighting for anything, the AEK has to try to win the game prize and of course the prestige of the competition. In the game in Athens Benfica's superiority was evident, but the Benfica players themselves complicated the game, and the result of (2-3) was not commensurate with the ascendant Benfica had in the first half. On the other hand, they lacked the experience of the Greeks at this level, as well as the inferior quality to work with the other teams. It has in the Stadium of Light the opportunity, before a Benfica with a few second lines, of being able to score in this group E. Players like João Felix, Gabriel, or even Castillo in case they come to play have the ideal game here to show service, especially since they will not have pressure, but the quality is there, so it will be natural for them to appear and play a good game. Benfica have a lot of quality people, there is an important financial gap on the table, so I think the conditions are right for Benfica to add another good win. The AEK will try to score as nothing to lose, so I anticipate a game without pressure for any of the teams, and this may bring a more open and scoring game. The defense of Benfica is still trying to solidify what will not be a misfit to have a goal of the Greek team, and thereby "obliging" the incarnates to make at least more than one goal. With Castillo, Seferovic, Cervi, or João Félix, Benfica have a lot of people who are qualified to score, and I hope they can do it both times. Benfica score goal on both sides of the game is priced at 1.95 and will be my bet for this match.     Benfica vs AEK Athens FC  Prediction: X/1 5.50 Benfica vs AEK Athens FC   Betting Tip: Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Benfica vs AEK Athens FC  Score Recommendations: 2-1 10.00

Manchester City and Hoffenheim face each other on Wednesday at Etihad Stadium in a challenge to qualify for Group 6 of the Champions League. Manchester City have already secured their place in the next stage of the competition, and only need to avoid defeat in this match to secure first place. On the other side comes a Hoffenheim without a chance to stay alive in the Champions League, and with reduced chances of being able to move to the Europa League. Manchester City are in 1st place with 10 points, with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, with 14 goals scored and 5 conceded goals. The Citizens fell short of expectations in this group, failing twice to beat Lyon, lost at home in the first round by 1-2, and then did not get better than a two-ball tie on the last day of the competition, having won the remaining 3 challenges. City have a presence assured in the next stage of the race, and only need a draw in this game to ensure the passage as a group leader. However, after conceding the Premier League's first defeat of the season against Chelsea last Saturday, Pep Guardiola will demand a positive response in this match and as such, victory is mandatory. Still, the Spanish coach sees several players unavailable for this challenge, with Claudio Bravo, De Bruyne, Danilo, Fernandinho, David Silva, Aguero, Mangala and Benjamin Mendy are out, all injured, leaving Zinchenko still in doubt. Fabian Delph's left defense is still needed, and with David Silva from outside, Phil Foden may have the opportunity to enter the eleven starting. Despite all these casualties, Guardiola continues to have a very talented squad and all elements are able to perfectly fulfill Guardiola's game philosophy. Champions League Hoffenheim, meanwhile, is in last place with 3 points, with 3 draws and 2 defeats, with 10 goals scored and 12 goals conceded. The Germans arrive here without a single victory in the competition and after having made good impressions in the two-ball draw at Lyon, where they were in numerical inferiority for much of the game, they were disappointed on the final day with the reception at Shakhtar Donetsk, where they lost by 2-3. The Hoffe is already unable to move forward in the Champions League, with the 2nd place already 4 points ahead. However, it is still mathematically possible to get 3rd place to access the Europa League, and for this he would have to win here and wait for Shakhtar Donetsk to lose defeat at the Lyon reception. The Germans are aware that their chances of moving forward are reduced, and to further complicate this, coach Julian Nagelsmann sees Lukas Rupp, Nordtveit and Amiri out for injury, such as Demirbay and Szalai, both punished. Manchester City have the qualification assured and only need a tie to ensure the leadership of the group. Hoffenheim need to win to do their part so they can move on. The City has an opponent who suffers goals with a lot of regularity, and goals is something that in this game will not lack.   Manchester City vs Hoffenheim Prediction: 1/1 1.50 Manchester City vs Hoffenheim  Betting Tip: Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.00 Manchester City vs Hoffenheim Score Recommendations: 3-1 12.00