Match report

The Miners had only two days to prepare for this match: 17 internationals returned only on Thursday, and before that the team had trained with just seven men. Viktor Korniienko could not appear due to injury, with Marquinhos Cipriano replacing him at left-back. We should also mention the appearance in the starting XI of Tete and Manor Solomon instead of Marlos and Taison.

Unexpected minority

The teams spent the opening minutes at a steady pace, creating next to no danger near each other’s goals. The first potentially threatening situation happened only after fifteen minutes when Moraes sent the ball wide. Then Pyatov coped with Luchkevych's attempt without any problems, with the retaliatory attempt by Tete being blocked by defenders. Towards the middle of the first half, Shakhtar's advantage was becoming increasingly more evident, with a key episode of the match happening right then. Junior Moraes unsuccessfully slipped and hit Banada with his straight leg, with the referee Kateryna Monzul showing the Shakhtar forward a red card after checking VAR. But even in that situation, it was Luis Castro's men who were closer to netting a goal in the time remaining before the break: Stepanenko’s long-ranger was turned by the keeper for a corner, and two more dangerous attempts by Manor Solomon whizzed past the goal.

Quick exchange of goals

The Miners managed to score early in the second half: Alan Patrick cut out a clinical pass to Dodo who burst into the penalty area and hammered the ball into the back of the net with his head to make it 1-0. Admittedly, the Oleksandriians bounced back swiftly - in the 53rd minute, Banada finished off Kovalets’ cross. Despite playing with just ten men, the hosts spent much more time attacking and trying to snatch victory. Alan Patrick failed to hit the target from the centre of the penalty area, Dentinho's attempt was denied by Hrechyshkin to back up the goalkeeper, and Fernando’s header hit Bilyk. The opponents responded with one yet most threatening effort - Tretyakov shattered the crossbar from a shooting range. 1-1 - Shakhtar shared points with Oleksandriia.

On November 25, the Miners will have the Champions League MD4 game against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 (0-0) Oleksandriia

Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, behind closed doors

Goals: 1-0 Dodo (47’), 1-1 Banada (53’)

Shakhtar: Pyatov, Dodo, Kryvtsov, Matviienko, Cipriano (Maycon 69’), Stepanenko, Marcos (Dentinho 43’), Patrick (Fernando 69), Tete, Solomon, Moraes