Patrolling the same spaces as Artem Bondarenko, Ederson jumps off the page as a superb option to be fouled at least twice on Wednesday. The Brazilian is regularly found at the centre of ground duels and skirmishes in midfield and he has been drawing 1.38 fouls per 90 minutes in Serie A since the summer.

Against Arsenal on matchday one, Ederson was fouled an unmatched four times and the 25-year-old also brought the nuisance factor to Atalanta’s Super Cup clash with Real Madrid in August, when he was fouled a further three times. Expect Ederson to be in the thick of it again in Germany.

The star of last season’s Europa League final, Ademola Lookman, tends to save some of his best work for the continental stage and the Atalanta attacker will be determined to shine against Shakhtar having been uncharacteristically peripheral on UCL matchday one against Arsenal.

Lookman has been averaging 4.17 attempts and 1.25 attempts on target per 90 minutes in Serie A this term and the 26-year-old should have opportunities to find his range against a Shakhtar side that offered up plenty of opportunities against Bologna. Back Lookman to hit at least one effort on target against the Ukrainians.

Artem Bondarenko forms a hard-working midfield partnership with Dmytro Kryskiv for Shakhtar Donetsk, though Bondarenko is easily the tougher of the two and he made his presence felt on matchday one against Bologna when he made two tackles and committed two fouls.

The 24-year-old was also a reliable performer in the foul markets in continental competitions for Shakhtar last season, committing 0.80 and 1.05 fouls per 90 in the Champions and Europa League respectively. Wednesday’s opponents Atalanta, have several players who are adept at drawing fouls and backing Bondarenko to give at least one free kick away against La Dea could reap dividends.

Shakhtar keeper Dmytro Riznyk was a little overworked on UCL matchday one in Donetsk’s 0-0 draw with Bologna when the stopper was called into action to make four saves. The Ukrainians finished that opener with a clean sheet, though that shut out was earned in some difficulty after this team conceded 17 attempts.

Atalanta have even more about them in the final third than their Italian counterparts Bologna and La Dea have been averaging 1.80 in xGF and 14.50 shots per game in all competitions so far this term. Atalanta are slick enough to carve out another glut of chances against Shakhtar and we’re tipping Riznyk’s reflexes to be tested at least three times again.

Mateo Retegui fluffed his lines when he missed a crucial penalty kick against Arsenal on matchday one, though the striker was in solid form before that, netting four times in six appearances for La Dea.

Interestingly, Retegui has been something of an away-day specialist for Atalanta this term and three of his first four goals of the campaign were notched in fixtures on the road for the Bergamo-based outfit. Retegui’s knack for notching in away assignments earns him the nod as an anytime goalscorer candidate here.

Pedrinho was one of Shakhtar Donetsk’s better performers in their 0-0 draw with Bologna last month, though the 22-year-old’s lack of European tournament experience did show at times in that stalemate and the left back committed two fouls through ill-timed challenges against the Rossoblù.

On Wednesday, Pedrinho’s acumen will be severely tested by an Atalanta front six that is likely to feature tricky customers like Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere. Both Atalanta attackers draw their fair share of fouls and can put the squeeze on defensive greenhorn Pedrinho. Look for the Brazilian to commit at least two fouls for successive Champions League appearances.

Mercurial forward Charles De Ketelaere’s languid style and deceptively explosive acceleration tend to draw a high number of fouls and the 23-year-old has already had his ankles clipped 2.44 times per 90 minutes in Serie A this season.

De Ketelaere’s technique and confident close control have also been effective tools on the continent and the attacker was fouled 1.91 times per 90 by his markets during Atalanta’s run to glory in the Europa League last season. The Belgian has the skills to draw mistimed tackles from a no-nonsense Shakhtar backline on Wednesday, so backing him to be fouled twice is the logical step here.

Shakhtar Donetsk lost the battle in most metrics and measurements in their matchday one draw with Bologna and the Ukrainians allowed their Italian opponents to rack up eight corners at their expense in that stalemate.

A similar tally could be in reach for adventurous attackers Atalanta, who managed to win four or more corners in three of their last four matches and in four of their last six fixtures overall. In La Dea’s wing-back system, deliveries from wide areas are key and Atalanta have been averaging 20.3 crosses per game in all competitions this season. There is usually a decent correlation between high crossing figures and corners won, so back Atalanta to beat a modest target of over 4.5 corners against Shakhtar.