Champions League, Wednesday, 01/29/2025 at 9:00 p.m.
It would take a few teams playing together for Dortmund to still advance to the top 8 with a win today. I don’t really believe in such a scenario, as some of the opponents above BVB have really manageable tasks.
Either way, the hosts need to win the game to improve their mood and gain new self-confidence. However, I’m not sure whether that will happen in the second game with interim coach Mike Tullberg.
Instead, in my Dortmund Shakhtar Donetsk betting tip, I have the odds on the radar at Oddset that both teams will score.
Despite being a man down for a long time, the 2-2 draw against Werder on Saturday was another setback for the black and yellow. After all, they managed to pull out a 2-0 lead with ten men on the field. It was only when Ole Werner eagerly made changes that Bremen became dangerous and almost managed to turn the game around completely, just like two years ago.
For Dortmund, it was now the ninth of ten recent games that ended without a win. Nuri Sahin experienced his last game on the sidelines of last season’s Champions League finalist against Bologna (1-2). The Danish interim solution followed for the Bremen match.
Dortmund did not have a “plan B” before Sahin was dismissed. The search for a coach is therefore still ongoing in this difficult and important phase of the season…
The bookmakers’ forecast
Only one win in the last ten games and yet the betting providers are very confident that this time something will come of it for Borussia. In the best sports betting apps, a 1.37 for BVB success awaits. The Donetsk success can be added to the betting slip at 7.25.
The draw falls in between, also at a high level, in the range of 5.25. Of the double chances, only the X2 variant (3.00) is worth mentioning in terms of odds – but this is too tricky for me.
What odds did the AI filter out? On the one hand, it finds the Over 2.5 goals interesting. For this we get about a 1.50, a very good alternative to my BTS option. A breakthrough in the form of a BVB win would be secured.
Dortmund’s past games have been high-scoring, and Donetsk also often scores. And since BVB will play for victory, but struggles with lapses in defense, definitely a good selection from ChatGPT.
While the AI sees a low risk with over 2.5 goals, it rates a goal from both teams as moderately risky. Ultimately, however, ChatGPT also picked this rate out of the large betting market independently of me.
Since the end of November, there has only been one BVB match in which this bet would have lost. ChatGPT reaches for the high odds shelf with the third high-risk option – namely that Jamie Gittens scores the first goal.
He has already managed this a total of five times this season, including twice in the Champions League. With a total of 28 appearances, the 7.00 odds are not that bad, but I’m not a fan of such risky tips.
Analysis: Dortmund vs. Schachtjor Donezk
Speaking of the first scorer, Oddset has a odds boost ready for this market, namely that Serhou Guirassy pushes the first ball over the line. A 4.80 is waiting for this. He scored first against Bremen and Bologna.
In addition, an improved quote awaits BVB’s victory in combination with a goal from both teams for a strong 2.80, an absolutely conceivable outcome. Dortmund is strong at home and has significantly more potential, which has often been underutilized recently.
Dortmund got off to a good start in the Champions League and still has the second-highest number of goals scored (19). But defeats against Barcelona (2-3) and Bologna have seen BVB slip down the table.
At least they have secured their place in the intermediate round. However, it would take a lot of teams playing to make the top 8.
But I think Bayern have a better chance of doing that. Munich have the easier task with Bratislava and are only two goals behind BVB.
Odds Analysis
The fact that both teams will score a goal is highly likely based on Dortmund’s recent results alone. After all, some defenders who have been sorely missed in the past are available again in the Champions League.
In the Bundesliga, meanwhile, Nico Schlotterbeck will be suspended for two games. But even with a full squad, we have seen some defensive errors in recent weeks – and Donetsk can call on the entire squad to attack, except for Eguinaldo.
If you don’t want to rely on Dortmund at all, you could consider taking the easy Donetsk goal, which is also already at a whopping 1.57 at Bet365. At Bet365, you can also get a great bonus with the code “VIPANGEBOT”!
In terms of the goal odds, I also think the alternative of both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals, the AI’s two favorite odds as a combo, for a total odds of 1.98 are also great!
Dortmund vs. Donetsk odds: 100 euros free bet for Wednesday
If you are still looking for a decent free bet for Champions League Wednesday, you should take a look at the new customer bonus from Winamax. There, your first deposit of up to 100 euros will be doubled in Freebet credit!
High odds that are also free of betting tax await you there. In addition to a simple BVB win, the Guirassy goal is frequently mentioned at odds of 1.92.
A few users are also taking the lower odds for the combo of Over 1.5 goals & Double Chance 1X – which, alternatively, can of course also be wonderfully played at Oddset!
Donezk scored reliably last time
If we look at the number of opportunities in the Champions League, Donetsk is not that far behind Dortmund. The Ukrainians have fired 67 shots, while BVB have had 89 opportunities.
Donetsk have improved as the season has progressed. Before the 2-0 win over Brest, Shakhtar also scored in a 5-1 win over Bayer, a 3-2 victory over PSV and a 2-1 success against Young Boys Bern.
The team has scored in 11 of the last 12 competitive games. In addition, in January, there were friendly games against Dinamo Zagreb, Ludogorets Razgrad and Sofia, in which the supporters were also able to cheer at least one goal.
At the same time, however, Donetsk also conceded the most chances after Bern. 126 in total, an average of 18 per game, a terrible statistic. Ultimately, however, we must not forget that the team was unable to play any real home games.
Incidentally, Dortmund and Donetsk have already met in the Champions League, in the season when Dortmund and Bayern were joint finalists.
Back then, the Black & Yellows came from behind to beat Donetsk 3-0 at home in the last 16 after drawing 2-2 in the first leg.
The teams also met in the 2001/2002 qualifiers. Here, too, Dortmund had the upper hand, comfortably winning both the first leg (2:0) and the return leg (3:1).
My Dortmund Shakhtar Donetsk betting tip:
Dortmund are finally looking to get back to winning ways. They have not managed a single victory in 2025, with four defeats from five games in January being the sobering reality. However, the match against Shakhtar could also be uncomfortable.
Donetsk have improved steadily in the Champions League and, although they have a break in the league and therefore not the best rhythm, they cut a fine figure in the three tests and against Brest last week.
In the last four CL games, we always saw at least one goal from the Ukrainians, who have the best attack in their domestic league and have only gone without a goal once in the last twelve competitive games.
BVB, on the other hand, have been struggling with occasional lapses in defense and have repeatedly found themselves in dangerous situations against all opponents in recent games. What’s more, the visitors can play freely as a team that has practically been eliminated!
My Dortmund Shaktar Donetsk prediction: Both teams score!
