Lutz talks Shakhtar

Lutz Pfannenstiel watched the last match today's opponents Shakhtar Donetsk played in the UEFA Champions League closely. The 45-year-old, who was working as a TV pundit for the streaming service DAZN, saw the Ukrainians get thumped 6-0 at Manchester City. But TSG would do well not to let that result lull them into a false sense of security, according to Pfannenstiel. "Shakhtar shouldn't be underestimated despite that thrashing," said the former shot-stopper. "If they have a good day and you give them space, they can beat any European team." They showed as much last season by beating Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League group stages. This time around though, Shakhtar did not have a chance against the dominant "Citizens". "Pep Guardiola identified Shakhtar's weaknesses and completely took them apart tactically," Pfannenstiel explained.

TSG can take confidence from their first meeting with Shakhtar on Matchday 1. The 2-2 draw in Kharkiv was by no means a fortuitous result for Nagelsmann's men. "We were the better team and would've deserved the three points," said Pfannenstiel. "We now need to go into the return fixture with the same mentality and attitude. I'm optimistic, because we already showed in our performance in the Ukraine that Shakhtar are an opponent that suits our style of play."

The reigning Ukrainian champions showed that night that they have weaknesses – but they do have one thing over TSG. "Shakhtar are a team with a lot of international experience, a real Champions League team," said Pfannenstiel. "That's allowed them to gain know-how. The Champions League is nothing special for them. The matches against the very biggest clubs – the likes of Manchester City, PSG or Liverpool – aren't an adventure for them." Shakhtar are currently participating in the group stages of the elite continental club competition for the 13th time, with some members of their squad having made over 60 appearances in the competition. They have, in the words of Pfannenstiel, a blend of experienced and young players, but above all "a strong mixture of Ukrainian solidity and Brazilian joie de vivre".

Prominent departures

For more than a decade now, Shakhtar have been the first step on a conveyor belt that has brought top Brazilian talents across the Atlantic before eventually selling them to the continent's biggest clubs. Prominent examples include Fernandinho (Manchester City), Willian (Chelsea), Fred (Manchester United) and Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich and Juventus). "They've been doing that really well for years, refinancing themselves and simultaneously investing in new talent," said Pfannenstiel. This approach has seen Shakhtar oust the legendary Dynamo Kiev as the number one team in Ukrainian football.

Lutz Pfannenstiel believes the current squad have "lots of individual quality in their ranks", especially offensively. The main attacking threat comes from the Brazilian contingent, whose importance has grown even further since Portuguese tactician Paulo Fonseca took over the reins. "The Brazilians are the key to this team," said Pfannstiel. The defence, however, predominantly consists of homegrown players like 34-year-old goalkeeper Andrij Pyatov, who has been at the club since 2007. A very experienced shot-stopper, but one who "has problems and many a heart-in-mouth moment with every backpass against pressing teams like Manchster City. He isn't comfortable in the role of a ball-playing goalkeeper."

At the back they have "solid defenders"; players who, like Ismaily, are strong going forward – but often look error-prone at the same time. On the flanks there is the talented Mykola Matvienko. Centre-back Yaroslav Rakytskyy could be a potential weak spot to exploit, Pfannenstiel feels. "He's not the most mobile of players," said the former journeyman, who jokingly added: "Against nimble players like Reiss Nelson he, or his hip, would struggle."

Taras Stepanenko brings balance to the midfield. "He's the defensive stabiliser in the midfielder. A solid player who's very experienced and has been playing for the Ukrainian national team for some time." He usually plays behind Maycon, who was disappointing against Manchester City. Lutz Pfannenstiel sees his countryman Alan Patrick as being "much stronger. He has a good mixture of aggression, technical quality and compact defending."

Taison is the team's star

The star of the team is undoubtedly the left-winger Taison, although the 30-year-old played out of position in a central role in the match against Manchester City. "That robbed him of his biggest strength," explained Pfannstiel. "He's a player who has to go down the flanks, who dribbles the ball at speed and takes on defenders in one-on-ones, who offers a lot of pace and mobility. His trademark move is to repeatedly cut inside from the wing. Taison knows exactly what he's doing." The TSG scout's praise did not stop there. "Taison is a player who'd make his mark on any Bundesliga team and even on most of the teams throughout the Premier League.

The Shakhtar attack is spearheaded by 31-year-old centre-forward Junior Moraes. Pfannenstiel describes him as "a player who guarantees goals, has a lot of quality and a powerful shot". He usually plays up front with Marlos − another player who excels in one-on-one situations and at dribbling − to his right on the wing. "They have enormous quality, especially offensively, but then they have enormous weaknesses as well," said the 45-year-old. "We need to consistently exploit those weaknesses and if we do, then we're capable of beating them on a good day." If that happens, TSG Hoffenheim will make history: by guaranteeing qualification for the knockout stages of a European competition for the first time. "For us it's a unique opportunity to move into the Europa League with a win, we have everything in our own hands to at least ensure we remain in Europe over winter."

And then? "If we beat Shakhtar, then second place in the group and the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League are a possibility. There's a lot still to play for."

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