Shakhtar Donetsk coach Marino Pusic mentioned his facet’s shock 1-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona in Hamburg on Tuesday was “important for Ukrainian football”.
Shakhtar have performed house video games away from their Donbass Arena in Donetsk, now occupied by Russia, since 2014.
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But enjoying the match lots of of miles away in Germany didn’t forestall Danylo Sikan securing a well-known victory over Barcelona with his dipping header within the fortieth minute.
“Unfortunately, because of the situation in the country, you can call this a home game but for us it is a tremendous part — the travelling, and sometimes we need one or two days extra to recover of course,” mentioned Pusic.
“It is not so easy… It is important also for Ukrainian football to represent the country in Europe like we did tonight.”
Barcelona
Barcelona nonetheless lead Group H forward of second-placed Porto, who beat Royal Antwerp 2-0, on head-to-head document, however missed the possibility to wrap up qualification for the final 16 with two video games to spare.
“After two years without qualifying for the last 16, today is a missed opportunity,” mentioned Barca coach Xavi Hernandez.
Shakhtar, on six factors, gave their knock-out stage hopes a lift, but in addition put themselves in pole place to no less than end third forward of Antwerp and transfer into the Europa League.
“If we achieve that (last 16), it would be fantastic. If not then to stay in Europe would also be a great achievement, amazing achievement even, for this club under those circumstances,” added Pusic.
After failing to progress from the group stage for 2 seasons working, Barcelona had received their first three matches this time period.
However Shakhtar held their very own from the beginning.
Barcelona missed massive probabilities within the first match in October however this time Pusic’s crew shut down their uninspired guests, who produced only one shot on the right track.
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Shakhtar pressured Marc-Andre ter Stegen into the primary save of the sport, with the German goalkeeper denying Mykola Matviyenko on the close to put up after he obtained in behind Joao Cancelo.
Ilkay Gundogan and Raphinha lashed over from distance as Barca created no hazard, with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski woefully disconnected on his return to Germany.
The former Bayern Munich ahead has not scored in any of his final six appearances for Barca, amounting to his worst run of goalscoring type for over a decade.
Sliced open
The hosts took the lead a couple of minutes earlier than half-time, simply slicing the guests open when Giorgi Gocholeishvili took benefit of Barcelona left-back Marcos Alonso being a good distance out of place.
The full-back crossed for Sikan, who beat Andreas Christensen within the air and headed past the attain of Ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen saved from Gocholeishvili early within the second half as Shakhtar continued as they left off.
Just earlier than the hour Xavi took motion, sending on speedsters Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal, in addition to Pedri, trying to shake up his crew’s lifeless show.
Barcelona have been higher however not brilliant sufficient, as Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk loved a quiet evening.
Shakhtar’s newest younger Brazilian winger, Newerton, scored a surprising second within the remaining phases however it was chalked off for offside — it will have been an outstanding technique to crown an excellent evening for Pusic’s males.
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Barcelona had seven minutes of added time to work with however couldn’t discover a breakthrough, with Felix unsuccessfully interesting for a penalty after he was clipped on the sting of the field.
The Ukrainian champions, third, celebrated joyously at full-time and now sit solely three factors behind Barcelona, who host Porto of their subsequent Champions League match on November 28.
“We do things step by step and we stay humble,” mentioned Pusic, who was pleased with his crew’s defensive effort.
“We prefer to assault and we had a number of good moments tonight, however sport organisation comes first.
“If you concede easily at this level there is not a high chance you will win.”
Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu mentioned his crew needed to look within the mirror after their disappointing show.
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“Every defeat is a warning,” he advised Movistar.
“We have to be self-critical and see what we did wrong, to correct it quickly.”
© Agence France-Presse
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