We advanced to play-offs

In the first leg, the Miners claimed a 2-1 comeback win thanks to the goals by Tete and Alan Patrick, gaining a slight advantage in the two-legged tie. Compared to the meeting in Belgium, Roberto De Zerbi made only one change in the starting lineup: instead of the injured Manor Solomon, Alan Patrick played from the first minutes.

Shakhtar looked sharper

The teams began the match without any reconnaissance, immediately delivering for more than 20 thousand spectators at the NSC Olimpiyskiy a spectacular and end-to-end action. The first chance was created by the Donetsk side already in the 4th minute, however, Vandevoordt coped with Tete's cannon shot to the near corner. The visitors tried to operate more through the flanks, but there they were reliably sealed off by the Shakhtar wide midfielders Dodo and Matviienko. And the Miners responded with another scoring chance: Pedrinho received the ball near the penalty spot and fed Tete who seemed to be forwarding it into the back of the net only to see his effort hit Genk’s defender. The visitors also had a chance, but Heynen headed the ball high from a few-metre range. And after two minutes they opened the scoring: Dodo dribbled the ball from the halfway line to the opposing penalty area and sent it to Tete who brought it back for the onrushing Lassina Traore to drill it into the back of the net – 1-0. However, the Genk players were close to equalising, but Trubin helped his side out by parrying away Heynen's powerful attempt. Late in the first half, De Zerbi made a forced substitution: Sudakov came on for Pedrinho who had got a muscle injury.

Goal exchange in our favour

After the break, the Belgians, realizing that they had nothing to lose, started launching all-out attacks. First, Bongonda missed the target from about seven metres, then , at the last moment, Marlon prevented Onuachu from finishing off Ito’s delivery. The Miners responded with Tete’s personal brilliance only to see the Brazilian’s effort whizz inches off the goalpost. But the stubborn Onuachu created another scoring chance by heading the ball goalwards: he outplayed his opponent in an aerial challenge just to hit the crossbar. And in that tense segment of play, Shakhtar's second goal in the 76th minute was really timely: Tete passed the ball to Dodo who crossed it into the penalty area, with a defender preventing Konoplyanka’s shot and blocking Traore's effort, nevertheless, Marcos Antonio was the first on the ball to make it 2-0! Roberto De Zerbi continued to refresh the team with substitutions: Stepanenko and Sikan joined Konoplyanka and Marlos who appeared earlier. Danyil could immediately excel by scoring a goal, but the goalkeeper reacted to his attempt that followed Dodo's cross. Marlos also failed to put his name on the scoresheet after trying to round off a move orchestrated by Tete and Konoplyanka. But the visitors scored a last-minute goal - Dessers flicked home a left cross. However, this goal did not affect the scoreline.

2-1 in the return leg and 4-2 on aggregate - Shakhtar sorted it out with Genk and advanced to the Champions League play-off round to face Monaco.

Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 (1-0) Genk

Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, att: 20,594

Goals: 1-0 Traore (27’), 2-0 Marcos (76’), 2-1 Dessers (90’)

Shakhtar: Trubin, Dodo, Vitao, Marlon, Matviienko, Maycon (Stepanenko, 84’), Marcos, Tete, Patrick (c) (Marlos, 67’), Pedrinho (Sudakov, 37’; Konoplyanka, 67’), Traore (Sikan, 85’)