Shakhtar Donetsk vs Basel Europa League preview: where to watch, team news
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Shakhtar Donetsk take on Basel in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals – all you need to know.
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Basel will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals in Gelsenkirchen on 11 August at 21:00 CET. This page will update with team news, quotes and expert analysis as kick-off approaches.
Shakhtar vs Basel: live build-up
Where to watch the game on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.
The teams
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
UEFA ranking: 18
Domestic position: 1 (final match: 19 July)
Last five games: WDWWW
How they got there: UEFA Champions League group stage, 5-4 Benfica (R32), 5-1 Wolfsburg (R16)
Last season: round of 32 (L vs Eintracht Frankfurt)
Quarter-final record: P2 W2 L0 (most recent: 2015/16, W vs Braga)
Previous UEFA Cup/Europa League best: winners (2008/09)
Basel (SUI)
UEFA ranking: 26
Domestic position: 3 (final match: 2 August)
Last five games: WDDDW
How they got there: Group C winners, 4-0 APOEL (R32), 4-0 Frankfurt (R16)
Last season: play-offs (L vs Apollon Limassol)
Quarter-final record: P3 W1 L2 (most recent: 2013/14, L vs Valencia)
Previous UEFA Cup/Europa League best: semi-finals (2012/13)
Possible line-ups
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov; Dodô, Kryvtsov, Matviyenko, Bolbat; Marcos Antônio, Stepanenko, Alan Patrick; Marlos, Júnior Moraes, Taison
Out: Khocholava (suspended)
Basel: Nikolić; Widmer, Van Der Werff, Alderete, Petretta; Xhaka, Frei; Stocker, Campo, Pululu; Cabral
Out: Cömert (suspended), Omlin (muscular), Ramires (unspecified), Zuffi (knee)
Reporter's view
Bogdan Buga, Shakhtar reporter: "If Shakhtar reproduce the quality they showed against Wolfsburg, I would be all but certain we'll see them in the semi-finals. This time, however, they need to be more clinical and not keep goals for later. Shakhtar's biggest strength is quick and efficient front line with fine-tuned attacking transitions. The Pitmen kept a first clean sheet in 27 UEFA games last time out – a positive sign for the defence too, but Khocholava's absence leaves Luís Castro with a big gap to fill at the back."
What the coaches say
Shakhtar coach Luís Castro: "I look at Basel as an extremely aggressive team, with a strong midfield with [Fabian] Frei, [Taulant] Xhaka and [Samuele] Campo. And then there is [Arthur] Cabral up front, very assertive, aggressive and intense, and [Afimico] Pululu on the left, who is also strong. They have a defensive line which serves the attack perfectly. We face a very complex game."
Marcel Koller, Basel coach: "Shakhtar have a great team, with lots of Brazilian players, lots of technical ability and pace, and a very unified team as far as I've seen. It’ll be tough, but we've got our own strengths, too. We're a good team that can defend well but we're also prepared to go forward and create chances. That's served us well so far in this UEFA Europa League campaign."
What's next
The winners of this tie will face Inter or Leverkusen in the semi-finals on Monday 17 August in Dusseldorf, with the final in Cologne four days later.