Draw in Athens
Thursday, August 7, 2025
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Shakhtar faced Panathinaikos away in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round
Head coach of the Miners Arda Turan selected the following line-up for this encounter: Riznyk took the place between the sticks, Matviienko and Bondar acted at centre-back, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique appeared as fullbacks, Marlon Gomes, Ocheretko and Sudakov formed the midfield, Newertton and Alisson were deployed as wingers, with Kaua Elias leading the line.
Even first half with chances at both ends
The teams started the match at a high tempo, trading attacks in the opening stages, but it was the Orange-and-Blacks who looked more dangerous. Marlon Gomes burst into the penalty area, but a sliding tackle from the opponent stopped him getting a shot away, while Ocheretko met Sudakov’s low cross, only for his effort to be blocked by the defenders. The Pitmen's Brazilians created the best chance of the half-time: Kaua Elias won the ball high up the pitch and released Alisson down the right flank, the latter entered the box, turned his marker and immediately fired high, but the hosts’ goalkeeper parried. Midway through the half, the Athenians tried to seize the initiative, but all they managed was to earn a number of set pieces, none of which posed a real threat to Riznyk’s goal. Shakhtar responded with another series of dangerous raids: Alisson struck from distance – the ball deflected for a corner, and Newertton also tested the keeper from outside the box, but the goalkeeper dealt with it. Before the break, the Greeks grew more active, creating two good chances: Pellistri volleyed under the crossbar, and this time Riznyk saved Shakhtar with a fine stop, then Tete struck again from range, but once more the Pitmen’s goalkeeper took the ball.
Riznyk the Wall and a late chance to win
At the break, Shakhtar coaching staff made one substitution: Bondarenko replaced Marlon Gomes, who was on a yellow card. The second half began at a calmer pace – neither side now forced the play, instead waiting for the opponents’ mistake. Arda Turan’s men saw more of the ball and looked for ways to reach the Athenians’ goal, while the hosts again threatened from a set piece – after a corner delivery, Cerin’s header went just centimetres over the bar. In one of the counter-attacks, Kaua Elias also headed over. Midway through the half, Riznyk came to the rescue again, tipping away Zaroury’s long-ranger. In the 73rd minute, the Orange-and-Blacks made a double substitution – Pedrinho and Eguinaldo appeared on the field. The forward immediately had a great chance when, after a pass from deep, he burst through one-on-one and shot at the goalkeeper under pressure from a defender. The replay clearly showed the opponent pushing the Brazilian with both hands inside the box. Worse still, Eguinaldo picked up an injury in the incident and was replaced by Shved. In the closing stages, the hosts pressed harder, and it was time for Dmytro Riznyk to showcase his quality. First, the keeper of the Pitmen came out on top in a one-on-one with Swiderski and dived to his left to keep out another challenging strike from Zaroury a few minutes later. In the dying minutes, the Ukrainians had their own chances. Ocheretko and Shved orchestrated an attack from their own half, but Marian’s effort from the edge of the box was blocked, and Sudakov could not get a follow-up shot away. In stoppage time, the goalkeeper saved Shved’s strike towards the right corner, and Newertton’s tried to volley the rebound, but was closed down by defenders.
0-0 – a draw in the first leg between Shakhtar and Panathinaikos in Athens.
One week from now, on August 14, Shakhtar will host Panathinaikos in the return leg in Kraków (Poland). The game will take place at the Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, with kickoff scheduled for 20:00 local time (21:00 Kyiv time). Tickets can be purchased via the link on shakhtar.com.
This Sunday, August 10, the Orange-and-Blacks face Karpaty in the UPL round 2 fixture. The meeting in Lviv kicks off at 18:00.
Panathinaikos Athens 0-0 (0-0) Shakhtar Donetsk
Athens, Olympic Stadium of Athens Spyros Louis, att.: 20,636
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Marlon Gomes (Bondarenko, 46′), Ocheretko, Sudakov, Alisson (Pedrinho, 73′), Newertton, Kaua Elias (Eguinaldo, 73′; Shved, 76′)
Even first half with chances at both ends
The teams started the match at a high tempo, trading attacks in the opening stages, but it was the Orange-and-Blacks who looked more dangerous. Marlon Gomes burst into the penalty area, but a sliding tackle from the opponent stopped him getting a shot away, while Ocheretko met Sudakov’s low cross, only for his effort to be blocked by the defenders. The Pitmen's Brazilians created the best chance of the half-time: Kaua Elias won the ball high up the pitch and released Alisson down the right flank, the latter entered the box, turned his marker and immediately fired high, but the hosts’ goalkeeper parried. Midway through the half, the Athenians tried to seize the initiative, but all they managed was to earn a number of set pieces, none of which posed a real threat to Riznyk’s goal. Shakhtar responded with another series of dangerous raids: Alisson struck from distance – the ball deflected for a corner, and Newertton also tested the keeper from outside the box, but the goalkeeper dealt with it. Before the break, the Greeks grew more active, creating two good chances: Pellistri volleyed under the crossbar, and this time Riznyk saved Shakhtar with a fine stop, then Tete struck again from range, but once more the Pitmen’s goalkeeper took the ball.
Riznyk the Wall and a late chance to win
At the break, Shakhtar coaching staff made one substitution: Bondarenko replaced Marlon Gomes, who was on a yellow card. The second half began at a calmer pace – neither side now forced the play, instead waiting for the opponents’ mistake. Arda Turan’s men saw more of the ball and looked for ways to reach the Athenians’ goal, while the hosts again threatened from a set piece – after a corner delivery, Cerin’s header went just centimetres over the bar. In one of the counter-attacks, Kaua Elias also headed over. Midway through the half, Riznyk came to the rescue again, tipping away Zaroury’s long-ranger. In the 73rd minute, the Orange-and-Blacks made a double substitution – Pedrinho and Eguinaldo appeared on the field. The forward immediately had a great chance when, after a pass from deep, he burst through one-on-one and shot at the goalkeeper under pressure from a defender. The replay clearly showed the opponent pushing the Brazilian with both hands inside the box. Worse still, Eguinaldo picked up an injury in the incident and was replaced by Shved. In the closing stages, the hosts pressed harder, and it was time for Dmytro Riznyk to showcase his quality. First, the keeper of the Pitmen came out on top in a one-on-one with Swiderski and dived to his left to keep out another challenging strike from Zaroury a few minutes later. In the dying minutes, the Ukrainians had their own chances. Ocheretko and Shved orchestrated an attack from their own half, but Marian’s effort from the edge of the box was blocked, and Sudakov could not get a follow-up shot away. In stoppage time, the goalkeeper saved Shved’s strike towards the right corner, and Newertton’s tried to volley the rebound, but was closed down by defenders.
0-0 – a draw in the first leg between Shakhtar and Panathinaikos in Athens.
One week from now, on August 14, Shakhtar will host Panathinaikos in the return leg in Kraków (Poland). The game will take place at the Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, with kickoff scheduled for 20:00 local time (21:00 Kyiv time). Tickets can be purchased via the link on shakhtar.com.
This Sunday, August 10, the Orange-and-Blacks face Karpaty in the UPL round 2 fixture. The meeting in Lviv kicks off at 18:00.
Panathinaikos Athens 0-0 (0-0) Shakhtar Donetsk
Athens, Olympic Stadium of Athens Spyros Louis, att.: 20,636
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Marlon Gomes (Bondarenko, 46′), Ocheretko, Sudakov, Alisson (Pedrinho, 73′), Newertton, Kaua Elias (Eguinaldo, 73′; Shved, 76′)
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