November 07, (THEWILL) – Shakhtar Donetsk pulled off a shock 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night. A first-half header from Danylo Sikan was enough to secure all three points for the Ukrainian side.
The match, played at a neutral venue in Hamburg due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, was a cagey affair for much of the first half. Both sides struggled to create clear chances before Sikan rose highest to head in a pinpoint cross in the 40th minute.
Barcelona upped the tempo in the second period as Xavi made four substitutions to try to find an equaliser. However, the Shakhtar defence stood firm against the Spanish side’s late onslaught. Goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk made several important saves to maintain his clean sheet.
In the end, Shakhtar were good value for their victory against the Catalan giants. The win sees them reach six points, just one behind second-placed FC Porto in Group C. Meanwhile, Barcelona remain on nine points after four matches.
Shakhtar, meanwhile, have kept their hopes of progression alive with two games remaining. Coach Marino Pusic will be delighted with his team’s disciplined performance against one of Europe’s elite clubs.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
