Shakhtar Donetsk Preview
Today is massive day for Crystal Palace. Playing a Champions League regular. Let's go through preview of what Shakhtar Donetsk is like a football club
Russia’s war of aggression
Let’s start with the big stuff. Donetsk was occupied in 2014 by Russia funded/Russian forces. This was after Ukraine got rid of pro-Russian Yanukovych. Ukraine wanted closer relations with the EU and had a revolution. Ultras were key to fighting against the government. They have always been pro-Ukrainian. After Donetsk was occupied, Shakhtar Donetsk was moved to Lviv from 2014 to 2016. Lviv is close to the Polish border on the other side of the country, roughly 777 miles away (driving miles). Driving from London to Leipzig is 657 miles. Then moved to Kharkiv for 2017-2020. This is near Russia border but still 195 miles north of Donetsk (similar distance from London to Leeds). Then moved to Kyiv and ground shared with Dynamo Kyiv. Since 23 moved back to Lviv.
Donbas Arena
This 52-thousand-seater was opened in 2009. Shakhtar Donetsk only played there for 5 years. Was used in UEFA Euro 2012, hosting five games, including England vs France, the quarter-final Spain vs France, and the semi-final Portugal vs Spain. Yohan Cabaye scored for France in this stadium. Roy managed England in that tournament. Wasn’t the first time Roy had managed at Donbas Arena, as his Fulham team went there and got a draw.
Champions League
This is the first season since 2010 that Shakhtar Donetsk hasn’t played in the league/group stage of the Champions League. That season, they knocked out in qualifying on away goals to Timișoara, and they were UEFA Cup champions the season before that. This is a team mainstay in the Champions League. Their home ground has been invaded; this is the first season they are not in the Champions League. They shouldn’t be in this tournament, and in the same way, Chelsea was too big last season. Palace have the Premier League money, and they have the European pedigree. This should be a fun match-up.
Record against English teams
They have played the English team nineteen times in Europe. Last season they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal away in the league phase of the Champions League. The last time they beat an English team was in 2017. At home, they beat Manchester City 2-1. They finished 2nd in the group stage and got knocked out by Roma in round 16. Roy’s Fulham knocked out Shakhtar Donetsk on the way to the Europa final.Palace will be the 7th English team that they have faced.
Honours
Shakhtar Donetsk won the Ukrainian Premier League 16 times. The league has been around for 32 seasons. Just under 1/2 the time they have the league. Dynamo Kyiv has won 17 league titles. In 21, this was the 12th-ranked league in Europe. They are the holders of the Ukrainian Cup and have won it 15 times. They won the Soviet cup twice and were runners-up in the top Soviet league twice.
In 2009, they won the UEFA Cup. They dropped down from the Champions League. In the knockout, they beat Spurs, CSKA Moscow, Marseille, and Dynamo Kyiv. Then beat Werder Bremen in Istanbul.
Brazilians
That final included five Brazilians in the starting lineup. With both Luiz Adriano and Jádson scoring. This was created by the manager, Romanian Mircea Lucescu. He swapped shirts with Pelé after the World Cup match in 1970 and toured Brazil with the national team. He worked closely with football agent Franck Henouda. To get the best Brazilian footballers. Mircea spoke Portuguese and made the players not feel homesick. The club got a great reputation as a way for Brazilians to get used to playing in Europe before signing for elite teams. Recently, Isaque chose Shakhtar over Man City as it’s better for his development.
Why not in the Champions League this season
Last season, they finished 3rd. Lowest league position since 96 and 4th lowest position since the league was set up in 1991. Ukraine has champions going through to the Second qualifying round in the Champions Path. As they were Ukraine cup champions, they started in the first qualifying round for the Europa League. They knocked out Ilves and Beşiktaş, but got knocked out by Panathinaikos on penalties. In the conference league, they knocked out Servette. In the league phase, they finished 6th, only losing at home to Legia Warsaw. The four wins included beating Aberdeen, Shamrock Rovers, and Hamrun Spartans. In the round of 16, they lost 1-2 at home to Lech Poznań and beat them 3-1. In the quarter finals won 3-0 against AZ and drew the second league.
Big name players / Familar faces
William - was part of the team that won the UEFA cup, and won the league five times before moving to Anzhi Makhachkala for a couple of months before going to Chelsea. Played 4 matches for Brazil while at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan - Was at Shakhtar Donetsk for three seasons. He won the double three times. After he left he went onto to play for Dortmund, Manchester Utd, Arsenal, Roma, and currently at Inter Milan.
Mykhailo Mudryk - A massive sale for Donetsk, he was sold for £62m, which might be raised to £89m. This was the largest transfer fee received by Shakhtar and the Ukrainian Premier League. This was after some great performances in the Champions League, playing 13 matches and scoring three times.
Paulo Fonseca - Once linked to be the next Palace manager. Paulo was there for three seasons, winning the double three times, and reached the last 16 in the Champions League. Even dressed up as Zorro after beating Pep’s Man City for a press conference.
Fred - Was at Shakhtar for five seasons and played 11 times for Brazil before signing for Manchester Utd.
Kevin - Was only there for a season and a half, but scored 9 goals from the wing. Was brought by Fulham for their club record fee of £34.6 million.
De Zerbi - He was the manager when Mudryk broke into the team. He left when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Contections (with Current squad)
Sarr scored against Shakhtar for Marseille in the Europa League,
Marseille won 5-3 on aggregate
Glasner lost 4-2 on aggregate in the Europa League
This was in the Round of 16 as Wolfsburg's manager
Benitez played for PSV in the league phase of the Champions League
Shakhtar went two nil up
Pedro Henrique got sent off,
PSV scored three (87 mins, 90 mins, 90+5 mins)
Further reading
the guardian write up of the Ukrainian Cup final last season