Real Madrid Stunned by Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League Opener

The Champions League match on Wednesday did not go as planned for the Real Madrid Team. They lost 3-2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk. This is the second time they got defeated.

Due to the coronavirus infection, Shakhtar had 10 players missing from the team. They also had nine staff members absent. Despite all the troubles, they made a remarkable win in the first 13 minutes. The match took place at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium where they scored three times.

Tete, Raphael Varane, and Manor Solomon with their excellent strikes shocked the Ukrainian champions at the interval and while Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric pulled goals back, Madrid was failing miserably.

Fede Valverde managed to get an equaliser in injury time. However, his deflected shot was cancelled after VAR proved that Vinicius was playing offside.

The defeat against Shakhtar, a team considered to be their weakest opponents put Madrid on the back foot in Group B. The others include Borussia Moenchengladbach and Inter Milan.

This also cranked the pressure on the Real team and their coach Zinedine Zidane just before the Clasico in La Liga on Saturday. 

Zidane’s decision to alter his starting line-up made him pay hard. He shuffled his team keeping the upcoming match at the Camp Nou in mind.

Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos entered the match only in the second half, while Rodrygo, Sergio Ramos, and Marco Asensio were given a chance to impress.

Shakhtar goal three times before half-time. It started with Viktor Korniyenko defeating Militao. Even Marcelo was pulled across to cover, while he left Tete free to finish Korniyenko’s poked pass.

Luka Jovic should have gone for a free header. But instead, Shakhtar made a goal again. Tete’s and Varane’s efforts proved to be fruitful in the end.

After Shakhtar scored again, it shocked the entire Madrid team and things only got worse for them. The brilliant back-heel by Solomon helped them to score once again.

Although Benzema was replaced Rodrygo in the first half, it was Modric who kick-started the game. He shifts past two defenders from the opponent’s team before releasing an excellent shot into the top-right corner.

Tete missed a sitter for 4-1. The Brazilian was sent in as a substitute. He managed to get the ball back and found the net, all in one movement.

Real Madrid had about half-hour to rescue a point but their momentum was not strong enough. Benzema’s finish was stopped by Valerii Bondar.