Well, how about that: a bit of a thriller in the end! Real were excellent for almost 80 minutes, but then something strange happened: Shakhtar decided to come and play, and Real simply went to pieces. Taison, the substitute, made a difference, Alex Teixeira scored two goals, and Rafa’s team were hanging on. But they won, and they deserved to: they were by far the dominant team. Still, seven goals, huh? A minor classic.
Thanks for reading – I appreciate it. Bye!
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Full-time: Shakhtar 3-4 Real Madrid
That’s it! Real can breathe!
90 min + 3: It’s been all Shakhtar these past 13 minutes, but Real Madrid have the ball in the hosts’ half. Thirty seconds to go.
90 min + 2: Real are a bag of nerves. Shakhtar pressing hard. Kobin goes down the right, but Real repel the first ball. Dentinho tries to beat Danilo, but it’s out for a goal kick.
90 min + 1: Taison has been brilliant, and wins two tackles, but Real win it back. Three minutes of stoppage time.
90 min: Three goals in 11 minutes for Shakhtar. Real can’t possibly blow this, can they? Rafa is pacing the touchline. Mircea Lucescu is sitting, impassive.
89 min: Oh my Lord! This is crazy. Shakhtar attacked down the left, and Alex had so much time and space to measure his shot beyond Casilla. Now Real have gone to pieces!
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GOAL! Shakhtar 3-4 Real Madrid (Alex Teixeira 88)
Unreal!
88 min: Good solid clearance, and Madrid can relax for a moment.
87 min: Kobin is fouled right on the edge of the box! Ooh, that seemed soft: did Danilo actually touch him? Whatever: it’s a yellow for Danilo and a real chance for Bernard. It’s on the right side so no chance to shoot, but a dangerous crossing position.
86 min: And here come Shakhtar again! This is hilarious: they were horrible for about 77 minutes, but suddenly they’ve come to life. Taison goes down the left and looks for Dentinho, but Casilla is brave to come out and claim.
84 min: Bernard’s corner, Stepanenko flicked it on, and Dentinho was totally unmarked three yards out to chest it over the line. Real undone by an Arsenal corner routine from the early 1990s.
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GOAL! Shakhtar 2-4 Real Madrid (Dentinho 83)
The comeback is on! Sort of.
83 min: I should have mentioned a couple of minutes back, but Benzema is on for Bale. Shakhtar win a corner.
81 min: Fred gives it away cheaply, but Casemiro can’t find Ronaldo as Real looked to break quickly.
78 min: Bas Nijhuis, the referee, awarded that penalty almost apologetically: it was a stupid foul from Casemiro, and the ref had no other option. Even though he’s only been on for about 20 minutes, Taison has been Shakhtar’s best player.
GOAL! Shakhtar 1-4 Real Madrid (Alex Teixeira 77 pen)
Coolly slotted into the corner. Casilla almost got a hand to it, but Alex did enough.
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Penalty to Shakhtar!
Taison, who has been really good since coming on, ran into the box, and Casemiro tripped him. Clear penalty!
76 min: Rakitskiy trips Isco in the centre circle, and Real have a free kick. The Lviv Arena is very quiet.
75 min: Real have been devastating on the counter, but they’ve been given so much space. The closing down from Shakhtar has been non-existent.
74 min: Ferreyra is on, and Gladkity departs. It’s a like for like change, but the hosts are in damage limitation mode, if truth be told.
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73 min: Gladkiy is down again. He really took a whack from Casilla a few minutes ago. He looks punch drunk, but then so do the entire Shakhtar team.
72 min: Shakhtar have crumbled, and that was much too easy. Bale charged down the left after Stepanenko dived in on the halfway line, and no one came to challenge him, so he squared it for Ronaldo, who finished at the second attempt. Gah, Shakhtar!
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GOAL! Shakhtar 0-4 Real Madrid (Ronaldo 70)
Oh dear.
70 min: This has been a very impressive performance from Real Madrid. Shakhtar have been rubbish.
69 min: Taison, who’s been lively since coming in, is fouled, but that’s another terrible Shakhtar set piece and Real Madrid can break … but Isco muffs it! That was a real chance: Real had four on one, but Isco got it stuck under his feet.
66 min: Casilla comes way off limits to punch clear, but this time he lamps Gladkiy instead of Pepe! Actually, he didn’t lamp him: he just crashed into him, and the striker is down. That looked a really sore one, but I think it was accidental. Casilla is joking with the ref, so it doesn’t seem as though any cards will be shown.
65 min: Another change from the hosts: Dentinho is on for Azevedo.
64 min: Taison is positive, and he feeds Kobin, but that’s good defending from Real, who evidently want to keep their clean sheet record.
62 min: Real Madrid have had 17 attempts. Shakhtar’s defending just hasn’t been up to standard, and there’s Ronaldo being wasteful again! Kovacic fed Isco, who played a beautiful pass with the outside of his boot for Ronaldo, but he blams it high. Cristiano could have had a hat-trick.
Shakhtar change: Taison replaces Marlos. Oh, and Modric is coming off – Toni Kroos is in.
58 min: Shakhtar have rather crumbled here, unfortunately. They used to be so full of spunk! Remember when they came to Chelsea and played really well despite losing 3-2? Very impressive, they were. Ronaldo is looking for a second from Kovacic’s pass, but Kobin does enough.
56 min: Gladkiy with a chance from another cross from the left … but he puts it wide. Another good chance for the tall striker.
55 min: Not that I wish to take anything away from him but, whisper it, that was a bit of a swinger from Carvajal. There weren’t too many options, so he presumably thought: bugger this, I’m having a shot. And he did!
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54 min: Ronaldo fed Carvajal as Real Madrid broke at speed, and there looked to be nothing on, but Carvajal was much too strong for Fred, just pushing him to the ground, and he curled a left-footer over Pyatov, who was a spectator. Shakhtar have gone to pieces.
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GOAL! Shakhtar 0-3 Real Madrid (Carvajal 52)
How about that?!
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51 min: Shakhtar had started quite well in this second half, but were undone from a goalkick. Kovacic received the ball from the keeper, went long for Ronaldo, who was left to run completely untracked, and Ronaldo’s clever cutback was finished expertly by Modric. Great assist and finish, but that was much too easy. Where was the pressure on the ball?
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GOAL! Shakhtar 0-2 Real Madrid (Modric 50)
Clinical!
49 min: Marlos’s ball doesn’t beat the first man. Groan!
48 min: Gladkiy, who was barely involved in the first half, wins a header and then is pulled back by Carvajal, who is booked. Good position for Shakhtar from the free kick, and Real have everyone back.
47 min: That’s a great turn from Isco to get away from Stepanenko, and he feeds Bale, whose daisycutter dribbles harmlessly wide.
We're back
46 min: Twin hunks Bale and Ronaldo get us going again.
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So as it stands, Real are going through as group winners, and Shakhtar are going home. Even if the hosts were to effect a mega turnaround, they’d need Malmo to do the same against PSG, and, realistically, it’s just not going to happen, is it?
Half-time: Shakhtar 0-1 Real Madrid
An entertaining 45, and Real have a deserved lead: they’ve been dominant. Not much to show from Shakhtar, but they perked up somewhat towards the end of the half. See you shortly.
45 min + 1: A minute of stoppage time, and Danilo wins a corner on the left. But it’s been taken short as Real wait for the half-time whistle. Pepe is fine, incidentally: he was down for a short while but he’ll be able to continue.
And a chance for Isco! Ronaldo did brilliantly to bring it down in the box and feed his fellow attacker, but Isco just couldn’t connect properly with the shot. Real pressing here at the end of the half!
45 min: Azevedo’s influence has grown down the left flank, and he’s giving Carvajal a hard time, putting in another cross for Gladkiy, and Casila flaps, and Real just about get it clear. Actually, that was funny! Casilla went to punch, didn’t really connect with the ball, but landed a solid blow on the side of Pepe’s head. Now, at one time or another, who hasn’t wanted to punch Pepe in the face?
43 min: Lovely skill from Marlos to get away from two defenders, but Nacho comes in to win it. But this is much better from Shakhtar, and that’s a chance! Azevedo found Alex in the box, and his ball in was cut out at the near post for a corner. Now a header from Rakitskiy … but it’s just wide! Shakhtar’s best moment.
40 min: I can’t remember seeing Gladkiy on the ball: he’s been extremely quiet. Bale motors forward and has a go from 25 yards, but it’s straight at Pyatov, who collects without fuss.
37 min: Slightly fortunate for Real after Ronaldo takes an air-shot at the near post, but the Spaniards safely shuttle it clear. Chance of a break, but Shakhtar get bodies back to break it down.
36 min: Shakhtar have seen a bit more of the ball these past few minutes, and Kobin wins their first corner.
34 min: I think that’s seven Brazilians: Azevedo, Marlos, Fred, Bernard, Alex Teixeira, Casemiro and Danilo. (Depending on how you view it, Pepe could make it eight.)
Stepanenko is booked for a tug as Ronaldo looked to break. It’s the first yellow of the night. Lucescu, bobbled-hatted, looks fed up.
32 min: An enforced change for Real. Varane hobbles down the tunnel and is replaced by Danilo. Not sure what the problem was for the Frenchman, but we’ll try to find out. Another Brazilian enters the game: does that make it seven on show?
31 min: Azevedo looks long for Alex, but Pepe is over to cover. A Brazil-born trio involved in that play, and now their fellow Lusophone Cristiano has a chance at the other end! Cross from Bale, but Ronaldo’s header is straight at Pyatov. He just couldn’t get the power, but it was a good chance: he was unmarked.
Updated
29 min: In the other game in the group, PSG are 2-0 up on Malmo.
28 min: There’s so much space whenever Madrid stream stream forward, and no Rakitskiy wellies it out for a throw under no pressure. Now Bale looks to dart into the penalty area from Kovacic’s clever pass, but it just won’t run for him. Shakhtar need to pick it up.
25 min: Madrid have had 72% possession, and are utterly in control, but that’s a foul by Carvajal near the left-hand corner flag, and a chance from a set piece. Minor panic from the Madrid defence after Marlos’s ball in wasn’t cleared, but Real whack it clear.
23 min: Comfortable claim from Pyatov, but the goalie must bear culpability for that goal: his coming out gave Bale the chance to lift it over him and find Ronaldo. Rakitskiy didn’t cover himself in glory, either, but Pyatov should have stayed home!
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22 min: Shakhtar have been really tepid so far: they just haven’t got going. Bale puts a cross in from the right, and Ordets, under no pressure, concedes the corner.
21 min: Now Ordets is penalised for handball. Free kick for Real, and Ronaldo is in familiar position, legs splayed. He strikes it … but it’s over the bar.
Ronaldo scores yet another Champions League goal, but that was flabby defending from Shakhtar: Modric stabbed a pass forward forward for Bale in the inside left channel, and there seemed to be little danger, but Pyatov, for some reason, rushed out of goal, and Bale just lobbed it over him, allowing the unmarked Ronaldo to run and head it into an empty net. Why did Pyatov come out?
Updated
GOAL! Shakhtar 0-1 Real Madrid (Ronaldo 18)
Real lead!
15 min: Now here’s a chance from a set piece for Shakhtar. Rakitskiy, shaven-headed, shoots for goal, and it’s too high.
14 min: Better from Shakhtar, but Real are comfortable so far.
Thanks to Kevin Sorochan: this game, of course, is being played in Lviv, not Donetsk. Apologies for my earlier idiocy.
11 min: That’s the first time Shakhtar have got forward, but Kobin’s crossing is not a patch on Srna’s, and Real clear. Now Bernard goes under Pepe’s challenge, but it was fair: no penalty.
9 min: Still nothing from Shakhtar. Funnily enough, Real Madrid are the only side yet to have concede in this year’s UCL, thanks to a top-notch defence of Carvajal, Ramos, Varane and Andy Linighan.
7 min: Bale lollops down the left, feeds Carvajal with a clever pass that cut out two Donetsk defenders, but Carvajal’s cross with his left is too high for Ronaldo. Not to be a bore about this or anything, but Real are really on top.
5 min: Varane speeds over to take it off the toe of Marlos and get Real moving forward again.
4 min: Real Madrid have started really well. They’ve pushed Shakhtar right back and are playing around them. Shakhtar can’t get the ball.
3 min: Great chance for Ronaldo, and he should have scored: Kovacic streaked forward in midfield, fed Modric, who checked back inside and looked to shoot, but instead fed a delicious flicked pass with the outside of his right boot for Ronaldo … but the Portuguese shot over the bar! It was on his left, and he had to hit it first time, but that was a free shot. The Champions League’s all-time leading scorer ought to have opened the scoring.
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We're off!
1 min: Many screeching whistles as we get started. Shakhtar in burnt orange tops and black shorts, and Real Madrid in white shirts, like a slightly more glamorous Derby County.
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Shakhtar in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bernard, Marlos and Alex behind Oleksandr Gladkiy, whose spelling of his surname is open to interpretation.
Players just emerging from the tunnel. It’s time for the Champions League music!
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Fox Sports reckons will line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Cristiano Ronaldo flanked by the bearded Isco and Gareth Bale in his topknot. It’s a chilly 36F in Lviv, and gloves will be worn, presumably to Steven Gerrard’s fury.
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Oh, and here’s Man Utd v PSV:
Real Madrid have already qualified for the last 16, so if you prefer Juventus v Man City, Scott Murray has it all here:
A note on Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu, of which students of the Champions League will be aware: he was in charge of Inter in 1998-99 when they lost to Manchester United in the quarter-finals that year. Check out the video of those two legs, if you can: it’s a true Champions League classic. So much drama! Diego Simeone’s disallowed header (plus his handshake with David Beckham), Henning Berg’s magnificent goalline clearance from Colonnese, Ze Elias’s miss, Paul Scholes’s late goal to seal it. Also, the non-call after Peter Schmeichel cut Ivan Zamorano in half in the area. Here’s the entire first leg, but if anyone has a better link, email me!
As an aside, despite having Ronaldo, Roberto Baggio, Youri Djorkaeff and a young Andrea Pirlo in their squad, Inter were at their chaotic best that season: they only finished eighth and Lucescu got canned.
So Rafa rings the changes for Real Madrid: Benzema and James drop to the bench, Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric start, and Kiko Casilla comes in for Keylor Navas in goal. Srna is suspended for Shakhtar, and former Arsenal striker Eduardo is on the bench.
Your teams
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Kobin, Ordets, Rakitskiy, Azevedo, Marlos, Fred, Stepanenko, Bernard, Alex Teixeira, Gladkyy. Subs: Kanibolotskiy, Dentinho, Ferreyra, Eduardo, Taison, Kryvtsov, Kovalenko.
Real Madrid: Casilla, Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Nacho, Modric, Casemiro, Kovacic, Bale, Ronaldo, Isco. Subs: Navas, Kroos, Benzema, Rodriguez, Lucas, Jese, Danilo.
Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Holland)
Some earlier scores from today’s Champions League games: Benfica came back from two down to draw 2-2 with Astana, and Wolfsburg did well to win 2-0 away at CSKA Moscow. So Wolfsburg go top of Group B, above Man Utd, and Benfica extend their lead over Atléti in Group C. More tables here.
Hello and welcome
After a showing against Barcelona on Saturday that could charitably be called abject, the managerial axe is hovering over Rafa Benitez’s head. (Metaphorically.) Benitez was given the (dreaded!) vote of confidence on Monday by the president, Florentino Perez, who insisted that the solution to Real Madrid’s problem was “Rafa Benitez. I have just said it clearly.” But of course, all PR aside, Madrid are in a funk: they’re six points behind Barcelona in La Liga, two behind Atléti, and they need a win to calm everyone down and get la hinchada off Rafa’s back. The iron law of the Bernabeu, of course, is that all managers are sacked: for Benitez, it’s probably just a question of when. Can he last the season? Don’t bank on it.
Shakhtar, by contrast, are enjoying this season – they’re above Dynamo on top of the league, albeit on goal difference – but they’re perhaps not the side that won five straight Ukrainian titles and reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2010-11. They no longer have Willian, Luiz Adriano and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to prod and create and rove, but there’s quality in Bernard, Darijo Srna and Alex Teixeira, and they have a wily old coach in Mircea Lucescu, now in his 11th season with the Miners. It’s probably beyond them to reach the last 16 – they need a win here and victory in Paris to even stand a chance of qualification – but they could make life hard for Real nonetheless.
KO is, as usual, 7.45pm GMT, 2.45pm ET. Join me!
Tim will be here shortly. Meanwhile, here’s why Rafa is sure his players are behind him:
“We are a great team showing good results with the exception for the last two games,” said Benítez. “We are extremely upset by the defeat to Barça as it was a very important game for us.
“Of course, I would like to thank the executives for their support. We have learned our lessons from the Barça game and I hope the last two losses won’t affect our team unity.”
