There is a difference in experience

Another year for Shakhtar in top Champions League group stage and this time they want to go further than the last '16'. Supposing that City will get the first place, the second one is open for the rest of the teams. Shakhtar have the upper hand against Dynamo Kiev, since they have won 8 times the Ukranian Championship the last 10 years. This season have an impressive start with 7 wins in 8 games and they are on top of the table. 

It's the first time that Hoffenheim participate in Champions League group stage, after their last year's amazing journey in Bundesliga, where they finished third. They left behind big names and traditionally stronger teams than them, but their performance in the whole season proved that they deserved it. Their goal is to get the second place in this group, as the first is 'reserved' for City. In Bundesliga they have 1 win and 2 defeats, however they have the quality to get again one of the four first places. 

Ukrains have both the quality and the experience to start their journey with a win. Hoffenheim are good and ambitious, however bigger teams than them have been defeated in 'Donbass Arena'.