Real Madrid began their uefa champions league quest on 21.10.2020 against Shakhtar Donetsk at The Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium in Madrid. The lineups for both the teams were as follows.
Real Madrid: Thibault Curtois, Ferland Mendy, Raphael Varane, Eder Militao, Marcelo, Federico Valverde, Casemiro, Luca Modric, Marco Asensio, Luka Jovic, Rodrygo.
Substitutes: Nacho, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, Andriy Lulin, Lucas Vasquez, Vinicius Junior, Isco, Diego Altube.
Shakhtar Donetsk: Anatoliy Trubin, Viktor Korniyenko, Davit Khocholava, Valeriy Bondar, Dodo, Tete, Marlos, Marcos Antonio, Manor Solomon, Dentinho.
Substitutes: Oleksy Shevchenko, Marqiunhos Cipriano, Andriy Pyatov, Mark Mampasi, Vitao, Bohdan Viunnyk, Heorhil, Sudakov, Danylo Goncharuk, Denys Shoshtak.
First Half
The first 25 minutes of this game were very quiet. Both the teams were playing well. Shakhtar Donetsk took the lead in the 29th minute. Tete hit a low shot from the edge of the box. Thibault Courtois managed to get a hand to it but in vain.
Real Madrid were still reeling from that first goal when a few minutes later, Shakhtar scored another. Thibault Curtois made a good save but the ball went straight to Raphael Varane who was looking to clear it but unfortunately, he kicked the ball into his own net instead. Shaktar were 2-0 up in 33 minutes. In the 40th minute, Shakhtar got their third goal. 21-year-old Manor Solomon scored from inside the box. The first half was a disaster for Real Madrid who just couldn't get into their stride.
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| Manor Solomon celebrates after scoring Shakhtar's 3rd goal. Source: NBCSports.com Second Half |
In the second half, Real Madrid brought in Karim Benzema for Rodrygo. Madrid started this half well and finally in the 54th minute, they found a way back into the game through Luka Modric who scored from 30 yards out.
This was exactly the response Zidane wanted from his team. In the 59th minute, Madrid brought in Vinicius for Jovic. In the next minute, the substitute bagged a goal. It was the fastest goal scored by a substitute player in Champions League history. This goal was scored in 14 minutes while the previous record was 15 seconds.
The introduction of Viniscius reinvigorated Madrid who played with much more purpose now. In the 70th minute, Madrid brought in Kroos for Modric. and continued to push for another goal which would really open up the game. Shakhtar scored scored twice in the 80th and 90+2 minutes but both the times it was deemed as offside.
Result
Shakhtar Donetsk won the game 3-2.
Conclusion
Real Madrid would have been disappointed to lose this game. Shakhtar were missing at least 10 of their first-team players due to Covid. Madrid should have taken advantage of that.
Shakhtar Donetsk would have been proud of their performance. Even though they had a depleted squad they eeked out a win.
Stay tuned for more further updates in the world of sports.
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