Champions League: Barcelona Lose To Shakhtar Donetsk As Group Qualifying Heats Up

 

Barcelona were beaten on the road to Shakhtar Donetsk in 1-0 loss that was their first group stage loss in the bid to qualify for the knockout stages. 

Shakhtar left it late into the first half to go ahead as Dynalo Sikan finished out Giorgi Gocholeishvili's cross for the winning that saw the side through. 

The hosts could have widened the goal margin even forward when Yaroslav Rakitskyi's cross found Newerton for a fast break and steered a shot to beat Marc ten Stegen to the goal. The goal that have doubled the lead was ruled out for offside position. 

Having won, Shakhtar with six points closed the gap with the nearest team, FC Porto, who now share 9 points apiece with Barcelona in Group H.

Quick Overview 

Securing the important victory keeps high Shakhtar's hope of making the knockout stages. By the way, it was their first defeat of Barcelona in 15 years, and that, as a consequence, moved forward the Spaniard's chance of Last 16 qualification.  

Barcelona bringing on Joao Felix and Pedri in the second half to help get around the hosts' defense and connect Robert Lewandowski did not pay off. The Polish forward was kept at bay for most of the second half, even as Maurio Pusic men appeared fatigued from the pressure faced from the opponents. 

The first half was favourable to the hosts anyway and they comfortably could get the ball around until they found the goal that delivered the victory to them from Sikan.