The Shakhtar verdict on Celtic as 'better than Leipzig' prediction rings true for Champions League rival

Shakhtar Donetsk defender Valeriy Bondar reckons Celtic are a better side than RB Leipzig.

Champions League Group F looks set to develop into a three-way battle for second place between Shakhtar, Celtic and Leipzig with four matches left to play. Ange Postecoglou's side have returned to Glasgow following a 1-1 draw with the Ukrainians on a night the Scottish Premiership champions will feel they should've taken all three.

That followed Shakhtar stunning Leipzig 4-1 on match day one to spring an early surprise in the race to qualify. Celtic controlled long stretches of Wednesday night's clash and passed up several opportunities to grab a winner after Mykhalo Mudryk cancelled out Reo Hatate's early opener. And 23-year-old Bondar revealed manager Igor Jovicevic told his players Celtic were a tougher proposition than the Bundesliga cracks - a prediction the centre-back reckons proved spot on.

He said: "I was really impressed by the team that played against us. We understood perfectly that the match would be difficult and we prepared well for the game. We were told by our manager that Celtic were better than Leipzig and that's right - they are better than them at the moment.

"So we had to approach the game very carefully and we gave our all on the pitch. We did everything to win and to please our fans. We really enjoyed seeing Ukrainian people in the stands and the support we got."