Real Madrid can practically leave the pass to the round of 16 of their fetish competition against a Shakhtar who has turned into the revelation of the group despite the war in Ukraine
Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk cross the sabers for the fifth time in the last three seasons. The Donbas team, which made a splash in the 2020-21 season by storming the Alfredo Di Stéfano and also beating the whites at the Olympic Games in Kiev a month and a half later, only to be thrashed on the same podium a year later in the Thirteenth for Carlo Ancelotti’s team and also succumbing to his mighty opponent at the Santiago Bernabeu with a brace from Benzema, returns to the home of the now fourteen-time European champion converted into a veritable wonder team that maintains its competitive advantage despite the war in Ukraine.
With a workforce severely decimated by this conflict that keeps the world on edge, but upholds the pride of a homeland that bravely fights for its survival against the ruthless Russian aggressor, the miners threaten the unblemished record in their fetish tournament. of a squad hoping to return to the path of victory, after falling three days behind in the League, against Osasuna, the campaign’s first blemish.
“It’s an important game in the group and to go to nine points if we win. We are prepared for this. We didn’t play a good game on Sunday, we want to improve and show a different identity and attitude,” explained Carlo Ancelotti ahead of a clash that could practically help Real Madrid reach 16 if they win.
The wins over Celtic and Leipzig allowed the Whites to enter the game in a comfortable situation. Two points ahead of the Ukrainian bloc, five over the Scottish team and six over the German side, Real Madrid reign firmly in a group where Shakhtar is the revelation.
When the draw took place, many analysts predicted the collapse of a team that, after the Russian invasion, suffered the stampede of its legion of Brazilians, has to play its European home games in exile in Warsaw and is living with the restlessness of the anti-aircraft alarms in the domestic competition. But the students of the Croat Igor Jovicevic, an old acquaintance of the merengue fans who ended up at Real Madrid 31 years ago with the rank of future world star and spent four seasons in the ranks of Castile without ever making the leap to the elite, have surprised locals and strangers who slaughter Leipzig on the first day and tear up a draw against Celtic on the second day, leaving their options intact to access the first round of the qualifying rounds.
“It is a team that has a lot of problems in terms of training and travel. The Champions League group has started very well by beating Leipzig. It has a similar style to last year. A team that wants to play football and likes verticality. They have fast strikers and are strong in counterattack. It’s a complete team and we respect them,” explains Ancelotti.
The Italian recovers Lucas Vázquez and Modric, but has the losses of Courtois and Ceballos. The absence of the Belgian goalkeeper allows Lunin to make his Champions League debut, who will experience a very special match against his compatriots, but whose continental experience is limited to the six matches in the Europa League group stage he played in. the 2017-18 campaign with Zorya Luhansk.
That season, Shakhtar became champion of the Ukrainian league for the eleventh time and also secured the cup title in a country now torn by war. By then, the conflict unleashed by pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Lugansk in 2014 had already forced them to leave their home in the now-devastated Donbass Arena and move to the Kiev Olympics. The large-scale Russian invasion on February 24 forced them to pack their bags again and their base camp is now in Lviv.
The Ukrainians come 1-6 after beating Metalist last Saturday to maintain the lead in the competition with thirteen points out of a possible fifteen. Sikan, in a triple game, Zubkov, Traoré and Djurasek scored the goals in a match that once again saw Mudryk, the young and versatile striker whose name is on the agenda of several European greats. Author of two goals and six assists in the six games he has played so far this season, the talented left-footed player will be the most important piece for Ancelotti’s men to watch. “We know who we’re playing against, but in football the best player doesn’t always win,” warned Jovicevic, once considered the heir to Robert Prosinecki.
Source: La Verdad
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
