Shakhtar stun dire Barcelona with deserved victory

Barcelona slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, spurning the chance to seal early qualification to the Champions League knock-out stages. Danylo Sikan’s dipping header in the 40th minute secured Shakhtar a famous victory as Xavi Hernandez’s flat Spanish champions failed to trouble their Ukrainian opponents.
Barcelona still lead Group H ahead of Porto, second, hosting Royal Antwerp late last night, with the Portuguese side able to pull alongside the Catalans on nine points with victory. After failing to progress from the group stage for two seasons running, Barcelona saw this clash as an opportunity to get the job done with two games to spare.
However Shakhtar, playing their home games in Hamburg because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, held their own from the start. Barcelona missed big chances in the first match in October but this time Marino Pusic’s team shut down their uninspired visitors, who produced just one shot on target.
The hosts took the lead a few minutes before half-time, easily slicing the visitors open when Giorgi Gocholeishvili took advantage of Barcelona left-back Marcos Alonso being a long way out of position.
The full-back crossed for Sikan, who beat Andreas Christensen in the air and headed beyond the reach of Ter Stegen. Barcelona were better but not bright enough, as Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk enjoyed a quiet night. Shakhtar’s latest young Brazilian winger, Newerton, scored a stunning second in the final stages but it was chalked off for offside – it would have been a superb way to crown a glorious night for Pusic’s team.
Barcelona had seven minutes of added time to work with but could not find a breakthrough, with Felix unsuccessfully appealing for a penalty after he was clipped on the edge of the box. Shakhtar, third, now sit only three points behind Barcelona, who host Porto in their next Champions League match on November 28.
Dortmund to damage Newcastle’s last 16 hopes
A late goal from Julian Brandt sealed a 2-0 home win for Borussia Dortmund over Newcastle, severely denting the English side’s hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout phase. Returning to the Champions League after two decades, Newcastle travelled to Dortmund needing a win to put them back on course for a place in the last 16, but were outclassed by the German side from start to finish.
The victory saw Dortmund go top of a difficult Group F with two games remaining, three points clear of Newcastle and with the head-to-head advantage. Paris Saint-Germain can retain their lead in the section by avoiding defeat at AC Milan.
Injury-hit Newcastle travelled to Dortmund without a full complement of players, manager Eddie Howe losing defenders Dan Burn and Matt Targett to long-term injuries in his side’s 1-0 win over Arsenal on the weekend.