Shakhtar team depleted by coronavirus stuns Real Madrid 3-2

By: Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press Posted: 2:01 PM CDT Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 Last Modified: 3:18 PM CDT Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020

Advertise with us

MADRID - The celebrations by Shakhtar Donetsk players echoed loudly around the empty Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

MADRID - The celebrations by Shakhtar Donetsk players echoed loudly around the empty Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/10/2020 (2128 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MADRID – The celebrations by Shakhtar Donetsk players echoed loudly around the empty Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.

Some yelled, others raised their arms and a few hugged each other after the final whistle was blown in Madrid.

It wasn’t just another victory for the Ukrainian side.

Shakhtar's Manor Solomon celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

A Shakhtar team depleted by coronavirus cases handed Real Madrid a shocking 3-2 home loss in Group B of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Playing with only a few regular starters, Shakhtar took advantage of counterattacks to open up a 3-0 first-half lead, and then held on after Madrid pulled closer with two goals shortly after the break.

“It’s a great result for us,” Shakhtar coach Luis Castro said. “We knew what difficulties we could expect and planned our strategy accordingly. The players have done everything absolutely fantastically. We were a united team from the first until the last minute.”

Madrid thought it had equalized in injury time through Federico Valverde, but the goal was disallowed for offside after video review.

“It was a bad match, a tough night,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “I’m bothered by what happened and I’m the responsible for it. The team didn’t perform like I wanted and that’s my fault.”

The Ukrainian side opened the scoring through Tetê in the 29th minute and added to the lead with an own-goal by Madrid defender Raphael Varane in the 33rd. Manor Solomon then added the third in the 42nd.

Madrid fought back with a long-range shot by Luka Modric in the 54th and a goal by Vinícius Júnior in the 59th, seconds after he came on as a substitute.

“When the score was 3-2 we had to defend even more and thought, ‘Oh, let this game end as soon as possible,’” Castro said. “Overall, we showed our quality in terms of tactics and skill.”

Inter Milan hosted Borussia Mönchengladbach in the other group match later Wednesday.

Shakhtar arrived in Spain without several key players who were not fully fit after going into isolation because of positive COVID-19 tests. Seven regular starters and a couple of first-choice substitutes were absent, and Castro had to call up seven players from the “B” team.

Zidane was without some players because of injury, including captain Sergio Ramos and right back Dani Carvajal, and he made several changes to the starting lineup ahead of the Spanish league “clásico” against Barcelona on Saturday. Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema were among those who started on the bench.

“We didn’t get off to a good start. I think we lacked confidence,” Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said. “We improved in the second half but it wasn’t enough. We have to move on, the next match is coming up soon and we can’t lose time lamenting.”

Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois dives but fails to save the Real Madrid's Raphael Varane's an own goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

It was the second consecutive home loss for Madrid, which on Saturday was beaten 1-0 by promoted Cádiz in the Spanish league.

The team was ineffective from the start on Wednesday, unable to get near the Shakhtar goal. The visitors, meanwhile, threatened often and squandered several other scoring chances. Marlos had a goal disallowed for offside in the 80th.

The game was played at the 6,000-capacity Alfredo Di Stéfano at Madrid’s training centre because the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium remains under renovation while fans are not allowed into matches because of the coronavirus pandemic.