Barcelona vs Shakhtar: match report
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
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Shakhtar faced Barcelona in the away match of the 3rd round of the Champions League group stage
For new head coach of the Miners Marino Pusic this game was his debut in charge of the team. The Bosnian mentor gave the following players a place in the starting line-up: Riznyk played in the goal, Konoplia and Azarov were full-backs, Matviienko and Bondar acted in the centre of defence, Stepanenko, Bondarenko and Sudakov played as midfielders, attacking wings were given to Kryskiv and Zubkov, and Sikan had a central forward position.
Opponent’s advantage in chances and goals
The game started with the host team controlling the ball, and they created the first dangerous moment, when Riznyk saved the shot by Lopez. Shakhtar responded with Zubkov’s shot from the corner of the penalty area (the ball deflected into ter Stegen’s hands) and Bondarenko’s long-range attempt, which hit Araujo. And in the middle of the half, the Catalans switched to active attacks and opened the scoring in the 28th minute: Lopez hit the post from the centre of the penalty area, and Ferran Torres kicked the ball into the net. And in the 36th minute, Barcelona doubled their advantage – Fermin Lopez hit the top corner of the goal of the Miners with a powerful shot approximately from the semi-circle.
Sudakov’s goal and the drawing chances
The second half was more competitive. The Miners started to act with more courage in the opponent’s half of the field and tried to keep up with the opponents in ball possession and dangerous attacks. After exchanging sharp attacks in the beginning of the half, Marino Pusic’s team managed to score one goal in the 62nd minute: Heorhii Sudakov passed the ball to Azarov on the left wing, opened up to a return pass from the Georgian full-back in the penalty area and shot accurately under the near post – 2-1. The host team responded with their opportunity almost immediately, but Lopez shot into the post. The coaching staff of Shakhtar revived the team with substitutions, releasing Newerton and Kelsy. And in the final 15 minutes of the game, the Orange-and-Blacks arranged a real attack on the goal of the Catalans. Stepanenko’s powerful shot from outside the penalty area went near the left post. Zubkov shot into the defender, from whom the ball almost deflected off into the right corner. Stepanenko tried to head Azarov’s cross right home, but he was centimetres away from hitting the target again. In the added time, Newerton rushed through the left wing at high speed, but his sharp cross was intercepted by ter Stegen. In the last minutes, the host team tried their best not to give the ball away and kept the desired result. 1-2 – Shakhtar lost with dignity to Barcelona in the away match. The teams will meet in Hamburg in two weeks.
The Miners will play their next game on October 30. Marino Pusic’s team will face Viktoriia Sumy in the Ukrainian Cup Last 8. The match will take place at Livyi Bereh stadium in Kyiv and will kick off at 15:00.
Barcelona 2-1 (2-0) Shakhtar Donetsk
Barcelona, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, 41,409 spectators
Goals: 1-0 Torres (28′), 2-0 Lopez (36′), 2-1 Sudakov (62′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko, Azarov, Stepanenko (c) (Eguinaldo, 90′+2), Bondarenko, Sudakov, Zubkov, Kryskiv (Newerton, 63′), Sikan (Kelsy, 70′)
Opponent’s advantage in chances and goals
The game started with the host team controlling the ball, and they created the first dangerous moment, when Riznyk saved the shot by Lopez. Shakhtar responded with Zubkov’s shot from the corner of the penalty area (the ball deflected into ter Stegen’s hands) and Bondarenko’s long-range attempt, which hit Araujo. And in the middle of the half, the Catalans switched to active attacks and opened the scoring in the 28th minute: Lopez hit the post from the centre of the penalty area, and Ferran Torres kicked the ball into the net. And in the 36th minute, Barcelona doubled their advantage – Fermin Lopez hit the top corner of the goal of the Miners with a powerful shot approximately from the semi-circle.
Sudakov’s goal and the drawing chances
The second half was more competitive. The Miners started to act with more courage in the opponent’s half of the field and tried to keep up with the opponents in ball possession and dangerous attacks. After exchanging sharp attacks in the beginning of the half, Marino Pusic’s team managed to score one goal in the 62nd minute: Heorhii Sudakov passed the ball to Azarov on the left wing, opened up to a return pass from the Georgian full-back in the penalty area and shot accurately under the near post – 2-1. The host team responded with their opportunity almost immediately, but Lopez shot into the post. The coaching staff of Shakhtar revived the team with substitutions, releasing Newerton and Kelsy. And in the final 15 minutes of the game, the Orange-and-Blacks arranged a real attack on the goal of the Catalans. Stepanenko’s powerful shot from outside the penalty area went near the left post. Zubkov shot into the defender, from whom the ball almost deflected off into the right corner. Stepanenko tried to head Azarov’s cross right home, but he was centimetres away from hitting the target again. In the added time, Newerton rushed through the left wing at high speed, but his sharp cross was intercepted by ter Stegen. In the last minutes, the host team tried their best not to give the ball away and kept the desired result. 1-2 – Shakhtar lost with dignity to Barcelona in the away match. The teams will meet in Hamburg in two weeks.
The Miners will play their next game on October 30. Marino Pusic’s team will face Viktoriia Sumy in the Ukrainian Cup Last 8. The match will take place at Livyi Bereh stadium in Kyiv and will kick off at 15:00.
Barcelona 2-1 (2-0) Shakhtar Donetsk
Barcelona, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, 41,409 spectators
Goals: 1-0 Torres (28′), 2-0 Lopez (36′), 2-1 Sudakov (62′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko, Azarov, Stepanenko (c) (Eguinaldo, 90′+2), Bondarenko, Sudakov, Zubkov, Kryskiv (Newerton, 63′), Sikan (Kelsy, 70′)
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