Match report

In the first two matches, the Miners scored a point, while the Spaniards arrived in Kyiv with three points under the belt. The starting lineup of the Donetsk side featured the goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin, Sergii Kryvtsov (with a captain's armband on) and Marlon at centre-back, wingers Tete and Manor Solomon, Fernando as centre-forward and Pedrinho operating just behind the striker.

Captain's own goal

From the opening minutes, Shakhtar players dominated possession of the ball, but Madrid’s threatening attacks looked sharper. Early in the game, Trubin alternately rescued his side after the following the attempts by Kroos and Vinicius, then Marlon aided the goalkeeper by denying Casemiro’s attempt. In response, Solomon missed a long ball from deep just by inches, with the latter going to Courtois. The Spaniards had another long-range attempt through Kroos (Trubin parried it away) and opened the scoring in the 37th minute: Vazquez delivered the ball from the right flank, and Kryvtsov unsuccessfully tried to knock it out just to slice the raking cross over his own goalkeeper, making it 0-1.

Unsuccessful start to second half

At half-time, De Zerbi made a double substitution by fielding Marlos and Marcos Antonio. However, the beginning of the second half was fully bossed by the opponents who scored twice within 10 minutes. Benzema intercepted Dodo’s lost ball and fed Modric, the Croat slided a delicious first-time pass right into the path of Vinicius Junior who applied a great finish. Shortly after that, the Brazilian grabbed a brace – he weaved past quite a bunch of opponents and sent the ball just inside the post. Between those goals, Fernando had his chance, but his attempt from the edge of the goal area was cushioned by a block, with Courtois picking up the ball easily. Another good chance was created by Alan Patrick whose shouldered volley just hit Militao. And in the 65th minute, Madrid scored the fourth one: Rodrygo cannoned it from nearly the edge of the box into the roof of the net. The Miners had no choice but to charge forward, but Courtois showcased his skill by pulling Fernando's kick from the edge of the goal area as well as Marlos’s finish. Trubin also responded with a spectacular save after a one-on-one challenge by Benzema. The Orange-and-Blacks' coaching staff brought the fresh Mudryk, Korniienko and Stepanenko into play, but those substitutions did not really turn the tide. Karim Benzema sealed the win through Asensio's ball behind the defenders. Mudryk could have netted a consolation goal, but failed to beat Courtois one on one.

Now Shakhtar and Real will meet in Madrid on November 3rd, with the Miners facing an away UPL match vs Vorskla this coming Saturday. It kicks off at 17:00.

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-5 (0-1) Real Madrid

Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, att: 34,037

Goals: 0-1 Kryvtsov (37’ og), 0-2 Vinicius Junior (51’), 0-3 Vinicius Junior (56’), 0-4 Rodrygo (65), 0-5 Benzema (90+1’)

Shakhtar: Trubin, Dodo, Marlon, Kryvtsov (c), Ismaily (Korniienko, 74’), Maycon, Patrick (Stepanenko, 79’), Tete (Marlos, 46’), Pedrinho, Solomon (Marcos Antonio, 46’), Fernando ( Mudryk, 74’)