Manchester United Team News
David Moyes has chosen not to bring Rio Ferdinand to Ukraine, although the defender does have a groin strain. Anderson, Wilfried Zaha and Fabio also miss out through injury.
Nani is available again after his suspension for the red card against Real Madrid last season.
Shakhtar's form & formation
David Moyes has had a hard old time of it over the past 10 days. But even he could spare a bit of pity for Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu.
Tonight's match at the Donbass Arena pits two sides who are enduring indifferent spells of form.
While Manchester United languish in 12th place in the Premier League table at this early juncture, Shakhtar are just third - a lowly position by their recent lofty standards.
In a recent Euro Footy Focus column, I looked at the demise of Dynamo Kiev and the way in which rivals like Shakhtar have stolen their thunder. Well, Shakhtar are suffering that syndrome this season, with fellow wealthy clubs Metalist Kharkiv and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk ahead of them in the table. Indeed Metalist are six points clear.
Recent form has been very patchy, winning just one of their last five league games, losing twice and suffering a rare draw in the Donetsk derby.
Of course, part of the problem is that Shakhtar lost key players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Borussia Dortmund and Fernandinho to Manchester City. Current Chelsea player Willian also left the club in January for Anzhi Makhachkala.
But as per usual they have delved into the Brazilian market to bring in former Arsenal target Bernard and midfielders Fred, Fernando, Wellington Nem and Fernando for a combined fee of €45 million.
So far the return on the investment has not been apparent, although it is early days and they did beat Real Sociedad in the opening Champions League group game.
But the pressure is starting to mount on manager Mircea Lucescu. The Alex Ferguson of Ukrainian football, the Romanian has been in charge of Shakhtar for nine years, providing stability and winning a whole of host of domestic trophies and the 2009 UEFA Cup.
However, he has the experience to trouble Man United in the Champions League, especially at home where they have beaten Arsenal and Chelsea in recent seasons.
In 2010/11, he guided them to the quarter finals and last season, they played a part in knocking out Chelsea, before elimination to eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund in the last-16.
While some key players have left, the formation and style of play remains the same. A dynamic 4-2-3-1 is the formula, Lucescu favours.
And there are dangermen in the team. Right back Darjo Srna is an attacking threat both via his crosses and from dead-ball situations. Ahead of him, Douglas Costa has been a key performer in recent seasons.
