As of: November 7th, 2023 11:21 p.m
Shakhtar Donetsk achieved the dreamed sensation in the Champions League. In Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, the Ukrainian football champions beat the glorious FC Barcelona 1-0 (1-0). This has significantly improved Donetsk’s chances of reaching the round of 16 of the premier class.
When the final whistle sounded, deafening cheers erupted in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion. Shakhtar had in front of 49,147 spectators thanks to a goal from Ex-Hansa professional Danylo Sikan (40th) and an outstanding team performance actually defeated the Catalans. And that means everything is possible again for the Ukrainians in Group H. After four matchdays they now have six points. With nine points, Barcelona lost first place in the group to FC Porto, who beat Royal Antwerp 2-0 in the evening and now also have nine points.
The first two teams move into the round of 16 of the premier class, the third can continue in the Europa League. Antwerp has zero points. Because of the war in their homeland, the Ukrainian title holders are playing their Champions League group games in the arena of the Hamburg second division team. Donetsk had previously won a home game on December 1, 2020 – 2-0 against Real Madrid in Kiev.
“We are at a low point in our game.”
Barcelona coach Xavi
Barca coach Xavi heavily criticized his team after the game: “It was one of the worst games I can remember in recent years,” said the 43-year-old. “We are in a bad moment. We have to acknowledge that. It’s a shame, but we have to move on. It wasn’t that long ago when we played very good football. It’s a mental problem. We’re blocked .”
“It was exactly how I want to see her.”
Shakhtar coach Marino Pusic
His colleague Marino Pusic, who has only been Shakhtar’s head coach for two weeks, was of course in a completely different mood. “My team was simply present in all aspects of the game tonight, my players fought the whole time. It was exactly how I want to see them: courageous, and very strong in the game with and without the ball.”
Donetsk initially under pressure
Pusic’s team only acted a little too unfocused in the early stages – and given the two turnovers during the build-up to the game, they were happy that this had no consequences. As much as Donetsk were cheered on by their Ukrainian and German fans with chants of “Shakhtar”, visually it was initially a clear matter in favor of the Spanish champions.
Further information
FC Barcelona, whose German national players Marc-André ter Stegen and Ilkay Gündogan were in the starting line-up, pushed the outsiders back into their half. But it wasn’t enough for top striker Robert Lewandowski and his teammates to have a chance to score.
Sikan puts Shakhtar in the lead
The hosts, on the other hand, had it – on the counterattack: After a sprint down the wing, Mykola Matviienko shot from the half-left position of the penalty area, but Ter Stegen was there in the Catalans’ goal (14th). This action did something for the outsider: it gave him courage. From then on, Donetsk played the game much more evenly and had a different defensive stance in the first home game in Hamburg against Porto and came close to the opponent’s penalty area more often.
Further information
In the 40th minute there was the hoped-for success: After a cross from Giorgi Gocholeishvili, former Rostock loanee Sikan rose up in the middle of the penalty area and headed in unchallenged to make it 1-0 for Donetsk. With the now deserved lead, the outsider went into the break to the frenetic cheers of the spectators.
Donetsk hardly allows anything and fights for victory
Even after the restart it remained the same. Barcelona had plenty of possession, but only Shakhtar was dangerous. Gocholeishvili (48th) and Sikan again (57th) could easily have made it 2-0 or even 3-0. How much Xavi was struggling with his team’s performance became apparent after an hour: he made a quadruple substitution. Barca then pushed hard, but the team lacked ideas to crack the Ukrainians’ defensive network.
The spectators pushed Shakhtar on, especially in the seven minutes of stoppage time. Barcelona kept trying, but kept bouncing off the hosts’ bulwark. And soon afterwards they were able to start their big victory party with the audience in Hamburg.
The third and final group game will take place in Hamburg against Belgian club Royal Antwerp on November 28th. Shakhtar has to finish away in Porto.
Further information
