Day: November 8, 2023

BVB optimistic after beating Magpies

Borussia Dortmund finds themselves brimming with optimism after securing a crucial 2-0 victory against Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), marking a significant milestone by ending a streak of four winless home matches against English opponents.

Newcastle United, plagued by injuries, saw manager Eddie Howe introducing the young talents Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall into the intense atmosphere of Signal Iduna Park. Hall, in particular, faced a challenging initiation as he received a booking for a foul on Niclas Füllkrug and clumsily redirected the ball from Julian Brandt’s free-kick behind the goalposts. Despite Dortmund’s relentless pressure, Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope showcased remarkable skills, denying Füllkrug and Karim Adeyemi in the initial fifteen minutes.

Nevertheless, Dortmund’s persistence paid off in the 26th minute when they displayed swift reactions to loose balls. Füllkrug combined seamlessly with Marcel Sabitzer, ultimately delivering a composed finish, marking his inaugural goal in European club competition. Newcastle responded admirably to the setback, with Fabian Schär attempting a header that was comfortably saved by Gregor Kobel. Kobel then stretched to capture Joelinton’s more menacing shot just moments before halftime.

At the start of the second half, Newcastle made strategic changes, bringing in Miguel Almirón and Anthony Gordon. The Magpies exhibited a promising start in the second act, with Almirón narrowly missing the target, as their determined offensive play intensified. Despite their renewed vigor, Joelinton’s header from Livramento’s brilliant cross went wide, and Almirón’s late attempt was valiantly blocked. Dortmund, undeterred by Newcastle’s resurgence, maintained their attacking threat, with Julian Brandt forcing Pope into impressive saves.

Finally, in the 79th minute, Brandt managed to beat Pope, sealing Dortmund’s victory by capitalizing on Karim Adeyemi’s skillfully launched ball and creating enough space from Livramento to secure the goal. Dortmund’s triumph propels them to the top of Group F, setting the stage for an exciting showdown with Paris Saint-Germain in AC Milan’s upcoming match. Meanwhile, Newcastle United faces a daunting challenge to progress to the UCL knockout stages, having been convincingly defeated and left with an uphill battle to secure their spot in the competition.

Shakhtar beat Barca in major upset

Barcelona’s path to securing their spot in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout stages hit a roadblock as their ten-match winning streak against Ukrainian opponents was halted by Shakhtar Donetsk. The highly anticipated clash saw Barcelona, on the cusp of UCL knockout qualification, faltering right from the start under the management of Xavi. Despite their dominance in controlling the game, Barcelona struggled to find the crucial final pass in the attacking third, impeding their progress.

Shakhtar Donetsk capitalized on Barcelona’s inefficiency and took a surprising lead before halftime. In a swift passing sequence reminiscent of Barcelona’s own style, Giorgi Gocholeishvili delivered an impeccable cross for Danylo Sikan, who expertly headed the ball past the despairing Marc-André ter Stegen. The halftime break seemingly revitalized Barcelona, but their efforts were met with strong resistance from Shakhtar’s defense. Despite several attempts, Barcelona failed to breach Shakhtar’s backline, and their frustration grew.

In their pursuit of an equalizer, Barcelona’s defense was tested as Shakhtar looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Ter Stegen made a crucial save to deny Sikan his second goal of the match. Xavi responded with a quadruple substitution, hoping to inject fresh energy into his team. However, the changes failed to yield the desired results, and Barcelona continued to struggle in the final third. Shakhtar’s steadfast defending, combined with Barcelona’s offensive woes, kept the Spanish giants at bay.

Shakhtar Donetsk nearly extended their lead when 18-year-old talent Newerton unleashed a magnificent shot that found the back of the net. However, his celebration was short-lived as the assistant referee’s flag signaled an offside, denying Shakhtar the opportunity to further bolster their lead. Despite a nail-biting seven minutes of stoppage time, Shakhtar held on to secure a historic victory over Barcelona. This triumph not only ended Barcelona’s winning streak against Ukrainian opponents but also propelled Shakhtar Donetsk back into contention for qualification in the prestigious UEFA Champions League.