On 7 November, one of the Champions League matches took place. Shakhtar Donetsk and Barcelona (Spain) met.
Champions League
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Barcelona ( Spain ) - 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: Sican (40)
Warnings: Ronald Araujo (45+2)
In a long-awaited UEFA Champions League encounter, Shakhtar Donetsk earned a deserved 1-0 victory over Barcelona. The first half of the match was filled with tension and excellent football from both teams. Shakhtar Donetsk took the lead as early as on 40 minutes thanks to D. Sikan's excellent goal. The striker, demonstrating incredible composure and accuracy, headed the ball into the net, leaving the Barcelona goalkeeper in a helpless state.
"Barcelona tried to respond and go forward, but their efforts were met with a strong response from Shakhtar Donetsk's solid defence. As we approached the break, the tension grew, and on 45 minutes Barcelona's R. Araujo received a yellow card for a flagrant offence. At the beginning of the second half Barcelona made several substitutions, trying to turn the tide of the match in their favour. On 59 minutes O. Romeu replaced Pedri, and F. Torres was replaced by Joao Felix. These substitutions gave Barcelona's attack new strength, but Shakhtar Donetsk defended confidently, limiting Barcelona's scoring opportunities. To maintain the intensity of the game, Shakhtar made several substitutions. Rafinha came on in place of L. Yamal, and M. Alonso replaced A. Balde on 60 minutes. In the 62nd minute, Shakhtar Donetsk coach made a smart move, deciding to replace D. Sikan, who scored a goal, with K. Kelsey, providing a fresh side. Kelsey, providing fresh strength in the forward line. This substitution was aimed at ensuring that Shakhtar maintained their advantage and did not allow Barcelona to pull away. Further changes took place in both teams: on 73 minutes, T. Stepanenko replaced Y. Nazarina. On the 73rd minute Nazarina was replaced by Y. Nazarina, while Barcelona introduced Gavi instead of F. Lopez on the 81st minute. The substitutions brought a new dynamic to the game, but neither team could break the deadlock. The tension in the match was building as it approached the final. In the 90th minute, Shakhtar Donetsk's Newerton received a yellow card, which further inflamed the situation. In a last-ditch attempt to snatch victory, Shakhtar Donetsk made one last substitution, replacing Newerton with M. Shved. Despite Barcelona's best efforts in the final minutes of the match, they failed to equalise. Shakhtar Donetsk's confident defence successfully held on to a one-goal advantage, registering an impressive victory. This result will undoubtedly give Shakhtar Donetsk confidence in their abilities in the UEFA Champions League. On the other hand, Barcelona need to regroup and analyse their actions in order to be stronger in the upcoming matches. Overall, the match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Barcelona turned out to be exciting, demonstrating the competitive spirit and skill of both teams. It was another reminder of the unpredictability of football and the fact that anything can happen on any given day.
The next round of matches await the rivals: Shakhtar vs Antwerp, Barcelona vs Porto.
| Shakhtar | Barcelona | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Kicks to the goal | 1 |
| 9 | Kicks | 13 |
| 1 | Blocked shots | 4 |
| 6 | Penalty kicks | 7 |
| 3 | Penalty kicks | 6 |
| 9 | Offences | 9 |
| 1 | Corner | 3 |
| 4 | Offsides | 0 |
| 32% | Ball possession | 68% |
| 0 | Yellow cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red cards | 0 |
| 1 | Keeper saves | 3 |
| 340 | Total assists | 703 |
| 256 | Accurate assists | 638 |
| 75% | Transmission accuracy | 91% |