Introducing the opponents
Friday, August 30, 2019
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We are introducing you to the Orange-and-Blacks’ opponents in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League group stage
Manchester City
For the third year in a row, Shakhtar will meet with the Champions of England Manchester City at the group stage. Last season, the Citizens won all the domestic trophies: the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and FA Community Shield. The City fans’ major dream is still the Champions League triumph. In April, the team ended their UCL campaign at the quarter-final stage, aggregately losing the two-legged tie to the runners-up Tottenham Hotspur.
For the third year in a row, Shakhtar will meet with the Champions of England Manchester City at the group stage. Last season, the Citizens won all the domestic trophies: the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and FA Community Shield. The City fans’ major dream is still the Champions League triumph. In April, the team ended their UCL campaign at the quarter-final stage, aggregately losing the two-legged tie to the runners-up Tottenham Hotspur.
Shakhtar played 11 times vs Guardiola's teams (10 times in the Champions League and once in the UEFA Super Cup)
Manchester City are still managed by Josep Guardiola. Key fact: over 11 years, Shakhtar have played vs his teams in European competitions on 11 occasions (5 vs Barcelona, 2 vs Bayern, and 4 vs City). The opponents’ major offseason acquisition is the central midfielder Rodri who moved from Atletico Madrid. Also in the summer, the club actually exchanged players with Juventus: Danilo went to Turin, with the right wingback Joao Cancelo moving in the opposite direction. And Angelino, who used to play for PSV, will compete with Oleksandr Zinchenko in the left-back role.
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo is the most decorated club in Croatia. Since the league foundation in 1991, the Zagreb side have become champions 20 times: they claimed their milestone title last season vs Rijeka (25 points). Dinamo successfully started this football year as well, winning 4 matches and being tied once. The team manager is a 48-year-old Croat Nenad Bjelica.
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo is the most decorated club in Croatia. Since the league foundation in 1991, the Zagreb side have become champions 20 times: they claimed their milestone title last season vs Rijeka (25 points). Dinamo successfully started this football year as well, winning 4 matches and being tied once. The team manager is a 48-year-old Croat Nenad Bjelica.
This is the seventh Champions League group stage campaign for the champions of Croatia
Dinamo passed three qualifying rounds on the way to the group stage. They demolished the Georgian Saburtalo 5-0 in a two-legged tie. Later, Bjelica’s men met with Ferencvarosi featuring Serhii Rebrov, Oleksandr Zubkov, and Danylo Ihnatenko: they drew 1-1 at home and enjoyed a confident 4-0 victory in Hungary. The playoff duel vs Rosenborg developed differently: Zagreb got a good start at home (2-0), drawing in the return leg (1-1).
In 2008, Shakhtar and Dinamo Zagreb met in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. In Donetsk, the hosts claimed victory through the first-half goals by Darijo Srna and Jadson, also achieving success at Maksimir stadium (goals by Luis Adriano, Brandao, Willian, and Bosko Balaban).
Atalanta
In quartet C, Italy is represented by Atalanta BC, which turns 112 this year. In 2011, the Black-and-Blues won Serie B, returned to the top flight and tried to gain a foothold there, currently preparing for their Champions League debut.
The latest successes of Atalanta are associated with the work of manager Gian Piero Gasperini. In 2017, the Bergamasca Calcio became fourth in Serie A, later surviving the Europa League group stage vs Lyon, Everton, and Apollon, ultimately being knocked out of the Round of 32 by Dortmund-based Borussia though. Last season, Atalanta finished in the third spot in Serie A, ahead of Inter, Milan, and Roma.
In 2008, Shakhtar and Dinamo Zagreb met in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. In Donetsk, the hosts claimed victory through the first-half goals by Darijo Srna and Jadson, also achieving success at Maksimir stadium (goals by Luis Adriano, Brandao, Willian, and Bosko Balaban).
Atalanta
In quartet C, Italy is represented by Atalanta BC, which turns 112 this year. In 2011, the Black-and-Blues won Serie B, returned to the top flight and tried to gain a foothold there, currently preparing for their Champions League debut.
The latest successes of Atalanta are associated with the work of manager Gian Piero Gasperini. In 2017, the Bergamasca Calcio became fourth in Serie A, later surviving the Europa League group stage vs Lyon, Everton, and Apollon, ultimately being knocked out of the Round of 32 by Dortmund-based Borussia though. Last season, Atalanta finished in the third spot in Serie A, ahead of Inter, Milan, and Roma.
Shakhtar Academy graduate Ruslan Malynovskyi will make his Champions League debut for Atalanta
In recent years, the club has been excellently working in the transfer market, selling football players profitably and gaining quality. One of the bronze success creators was the loaned Colombian striker Duvan Zapata by scoring 23 goals and being the second best scorer in Serie A. Another important performer is Josip Ilicic who came to the club a season earlier. This summer, the Bergamo side signed the Shakhtar Academy graduate and former Genk player Ruslan Malynovskyi. And there is one more connection with Ukraine: the league’s best assist provider, the leader and captain of Atalanta Alejandro Gomez moved to the club in 2014 from Metalist Kharkiv.
On August 30 (from 14:00) and on August 31, the 2019/20 season ticket holders will be the first to purchase tickets for the home games vs Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, and Atalanta, or to buy a Champions League package.
On August 30 (from 14:00) and on August 31, the 2019/20 season ticket holders will be the first to purchase tickets for the home games vs Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, and Atalanta, or to buy a Champions League package.