FC Barcelona have confirmed their spot into the semi finals after edging Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 on Tuesday at the Donbass Arena. Messi scored the only goal of the night to bring the Catalans a 6-1 aggregate result. Both the Spanish and Romanian coaches declared before the game that their sides would chase a positive result. Unfortunately for the Ukrainians, they left defeated for the second time. Although Lucescu’s side dominated the early minutes of the first half, there were the Spaniards who scored late in the 43rd minute.
Foto Source: gacksports.com
Shakhtar got their first chance in the eighth minute through Douglas Costa whose stormy shot was saved by Victor Valdez. The striker would miss another opportunity in the 14th minute. Following an individual action, Costa hit it straight to the same Valdez who managed to keep the sheet clean throughout the entire 90 minutes. The Ukrainians got even a third one in the 24th minute. Mkhitaryan’s cross met Jadson whose finish reached keeper’s hands. On the other side, Barca’s first big chance came late in the 30th minute. Afellay picked Adriano, but the effort was stopped by Rakitskiy. One minute later, Messi’s dangerous strike has also been blocked by Pyatov.
Barcelona’s attempts on goal were intensifying as the game progressed. Thus, Afellay tried his luck with a tremendous shot to which the same Pyatov was equal. Three minutes later the Catalans finally put it beyond him. Alves picked Messi just inside the box, the Argentine beating the keeper with a superb strike between two defenders and into the near left-hand post. The first half finished though with Jadson’s equalizer efforts. Shakhtar won a free-kick 20 yards out the Brazilian taken perfectly only to be denied by Valdez.
The second half brought the Ukrainians two yellow cards received by Mkhitaryan and Ishchenko for trips on Busquets and Messi respectively. Meanwhile, Barca were chasing even a second one as Messi played Afellay in good position, but the former PSV player was denied by Pyatov. Eight minutes into the second part Lucescu replaced Costa with Eduardo, but things remained almost the same for the home side. Guardiola’s first substitution came in the 68th minute. The Spaniard introduced Pedro and Milito for Xabi and Pique respectively.
Mkhiataryan got his first chance in the 73rd minute. The midfielder was picked in dangerous area to strike it straight to Valdez, while Eduardo imitated him seconds later. A third change found David Villa being replaced by Jeffren. Messi, who was trying desperately to complete a double, tested POyatov with another lovely effect the keeper saved. With seven minutes left, Moreno could have brought the Ukrainians a draw had he struck it on the target.
The Catalans finished with 14 attempts on goal, four corners, 62 percent of possession, but also with 17 fouls and one yellow card, while Shakhtar had ten attempts on goal, five corners and committed 22 fouls. Barca won as Pep Guardiola’s side will next meet rivals Real Madrid, the semi final being scheduled to take place on April 27 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Shakhtar Donetsk – Pyatov; Shevchuk, Rakytskiy, Ischenko, Kobin; Hubschman, Mkhitaryan; Costa, Jadson, Willian; Luiz Adriano. Reserves: Alex Teixeira, Fernandinho, O. Gay, R. Khudzhamov, Eduardo, M. Moreno, S. Kryvtsov.
FC Barcelona – Victor Valdez; Dani Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Correia; Busquets, Xabi, Keita; Villa, Afellay, Messi. Reserves: Thiago, Pedro, Maxwell, J. Pinto, G. Milito, A. Fontas, Jeffren.
