Shakhtar vs Barcelona: match preview
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
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Shakhtar will host Barcelona in the Champions League group stage MD4 game
November 7, Hamburg, Volksparkstadion, 19:45
Live broadcast will be available on Megogo
Match build-up
Shakhtar are third in Group H in the middle of the tournament group stage, having 3 points (goal difference: 5-7). We remind that the Miners had an incredible comeback after starting defeat against Porto (1-3), claiming a win over Belgian champions Antwerp (3-2) away, and narrowly lost to Barcelona (1-2) in the previous round in a descent fight. It was the match in Spain that marked the debut for Marino Pusic as Shakhtar head coach. During the past 2 weeks, the Bosnian coach managed to play the first games with the team in domestic tournaments: first, the Orange-and-Blacks beat Viktoriia (3-0) in the Ukrainian Cup quarter-finals, and then won the Ukrainian Clasico against Dynamo (1-0) in the UPL.
The Pitmen are approaching the second meeting with Barcelona with some personnel losses: defender Yukhym Konoplia, midfielders Artem Bondarenko and Oleh Ocheretko, striker Lassina Traore will not appear in the game. The rest are ready to take the Volksparkstadion field.
Opponents
Barcelona are topping Group H with an absolute result of 3 wins in 3 rounds (9 points, goal difference: 8-1). The Catalans started the tournament hammering Antwerp (5-0), then beat Porto (1-0 away) and Shakhtar (2-1). After the previous meeting with the Miners, Xavi's men managed to play 2 matches of the Spanish league, losing El Clasico against Real Madrid (1-2) and securing a very difficult victory over Real Sociedad FC (1:0) thanks to the goal by Araujo in the 90+2nd minute last weekend.
The situation with Barcelona squad has improved significantly compared to the match two weeks ago. The main scorer of the Catalans Robert Lewandowski (6 goals and 4 assists in the season), young leaders of the midfield Gavi and Pedri, as well as winger Raphinha, recovered and returned to play. Frankie de Jong and Sergi Roberto remain injured.
Match background
Shakhtar and Barcelona played 10 competitive matches in all tournaments: 2 wins of the Miners, 1 draw, with the Catalans proving stronger 7 times. Total goal difference: 9-20.
Previous meeting
On October 25, 2023, the teams met in Barcelona. The hosts had an advantage in the first half that they converted into 2 goals: in the 28th minute, Ferran Torres made a successful finish and opened the score, and in the 36th minute, Fermin Lopez scored a long-ranger. After the break, the Miners began to act more bravely and Heorhii Sudakov pulled one goal back after a combination move with Azarov in the 62nd minute. Marino Pusic’s outfit spent the rest of the half trying to equalize, but they failed to convert their chances – 1-2.
Shakhtar vs Barcelona match will be officiated by the judging panel from Bosnia and Herzegovina headed by Irfan Peljto.
Live broadcast will be available on Megogo
Match build-up
Shakhtar are third in Group H in the middle of the tournament group stage, having 3 points (goal difference: 5-7). We remind that the Miners had an incredible comeback after starting defeat against Porto (1-3), claiming a win over Belgian champions Antwerp (3-2) away, and narrowly lost to Barcelona (1-2) in the previous round in a descent fight. It was the match in Spain that marked the debut for Marino Pusic as Shakhtar head coach. During the past 2 weeks, the Bosnian coach managed to play the first games with the team in domestic tournaments: first, the Orange-and-Blacks beat Viktoriia (3-0) in the Ukrainian Cup quarter-finals, and then won the Ukrainian Clasico against Dynamo (1-0) in the UPL.
The Pitmen are approaching the second meeting with Barcelona with some personnel losses: defender Yukhym Konoplia, midfielders Artem Bondarenko and Oleh Ocheretko, striker Lassina Traore will not appear in the game. The rest are ready to take the Volksparkstadion field.
Opponents
Barcelona are topping Group H with an absolute result of 3 wins in 3 rounds (9 points, goal difference: 8-1). The Catalans started the tournament hammering Antwerp (5-0), then beat Porto (1-0 away) and Shakhtar (2-1). After the previous meeting with the Miners, Xavi's men managed to play 2 matches of the Spanish league, losing El Clasico against Real Madrid (1-2) and securing a very difficult victory over Real Sociedad FC (1:0) thanks to the goal by Araujo in the 90+2nd minute last weekend.
The situation with Barcelona squad has improved significantly compared to the match two weeks ago. The main scorer of the Catalans Robert Lewandowski (6 goals and 4 assists in the season), young leaders of the midfield Gavi and Pedri, as well as winger Raphinha, recovered and returned to play. Frankie de Jong and Sergi Roberto remain injured.
Match background
Shakhtar and Barcelona played 10 competitive matches in all tournaments: 2 wins of the Miners, 1 draw, with the Catalans proving stronger 7 times. Total goal difference: 9-20.
Previous meeting
On October 25, 2023, the teams met in Barcelona. The hosts had an advantage in the first half that they converted into 2 goals: in the 28th minute, Ferran Torres made a successful finish and opened the score, and in the 36th minute, Fermin Lopez scored a long-ranger. After the break, the Miners began to act more bravely and Heorhii Sudakov pulled one goal back after a combination move with Azarov in the 62nd minute. Marino Pusic’s outfit spent the rest of the half trying to equalize, but they failed to convert their chances – 1-2.
Shakhtar vs Barcelona match will be officiated by the judging panel from Bosnia and Herzegovina headed by Irfan Peljto.