Barcelona emerged victorious against Ukrainian opponents Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League. An otherwise comfortable victory, it did have its moments of worry for Barcelona near the end. Ultimately, La Blaugrana came out of the European clash as 2-1 victors courtesy of goals by Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez.
The victory now ensures that Barcelona maintain their lead at the top of the table. The top spot in Group H remains there for Barcelona to lose themselves at this point. With the current progression, La Blaugrana will undoubtedly be heading to the knockout stages.
Here is how the Barcelona players fared:
Player Ratings
Marc Andre Ter Stegen: 6.5
The German goalkeeper remained untroubled for a major portion of the match. Shakhtar Donetsk had no shots on target for much of the game, and it made Ter Stegen’s job that much easier.
A rather cozy night for the Barcelona captain between the sticks up until the 62nd minute. Following Shakhtar’s first goal, a constant barrage of attacks turned the keeper’s comfort into a war zone.
Joao Cancelo: 7.0
Cancelo was a great offensive contributor for Barcelona against Shakhtar Donetsk. However, while his attacking input was more than welcome, it often left Barcelona vulnerable at the back. Shakhtar’s goal ended up coming from the right flank which Cancelo was supposed to occupy, but was nowhere to be found as he was lost up ahead while the opponents counter-attacked.
Ronald Araujo: 7.5
Barça’s Uruguayan pillar was a great asset to have for Xavi Hernandez. Making crucial tackles and carrying the ball forward when needed, Araujo ensured Barcelona maintained control for much of the game.
Even when Barcelona conceded, Araujo remained their primary support system when it came to any and all defensive actions.
Inigo Martinez: 7.5
Undoubtedly the best progressive passer Barcelona possess in defense, Inigo Martinez was a solid performer. His defensive solidity was already there to see, but his creative prowess was also fully on display.
Marcos Alonso: 6.5
The Spanish veteran did a decent enough job occupying the left-back position. His positioning was commendable but nothing worth noting apart from that. His movement was stale and a lot of times his presence would slow down a promising play. However, did make some decent defensive contributions.
Oriol Romeu: 6.5
The Spanish midfielder had a decent game overall up until the 62nd minute. His lack of awareness and inability to keep up with his marked player resulted in Shakhtar scoring their goal for the night.
A visibly distraught Ter Stegen was enough evidence to show Romeu should have done much better in that position. Apart from that, solid performance from the Spanish veteran.
Fermin Lopez: 9.0
Undoubtedly the man of the match, Fermin Lopez was an absolute delight to watch. Intricate footwork coupled with an effective style of play, the 20-year-old was unstoppable.
The first goal came as a consequence of his running, and the second was launched powerfully directly from his foot. His performance gave Barça life in a thrilling clash, and several posts and offside finishes were also there to be seen.
Ilkay Gundogan: 8.0
The German midfielder was absolutely magical to watch at points during the game. Quick footwork, immaculate passes, and a clear veteran’s mentality allowed him to shine despite no flashy antics coming into play. His pass for the first goal was a particularly special piece of work.
Lamine Yamal: 7.0
The 16-year-old Barcelona prodigy was not able to shine as he typically does. He did have his flashes of brilliance, but ultimately nothing that could materialize into something. Not his brightest display, but still left enough on the field for Barcelona to be excited for more from the youngster.
Ferran Torres: 8.0
Ferran Torres is back to scoring goals for Barcelona. Dispatching a powerful volley after a shot from Fermin Lopez bounced back towards him, Torres did not let his chance go to waste. With this goal, the Spaniard now has two goals in two consequent UEFA Champions League games.
Joao Felix: 7.0
Another one of the solid performers on the night, Joao Felix was a dynamic presence. Often making clever dummies, smart passes and even taking his shots, the Portuguese star was unlucky not to come away with at least one goal contribution from the game.
Substitutes
Alejandro Balde: 6.5
Following Balde’s introduction as Alonso’s replacement, the game felt much more dynamic from the left flank for Barcelona. His pace and ability to carry the ball were both dangerous for Shakhtar to try to cope with. By the final whistle, he managed to ensure that Barça’s opponents were kept on their toes.
Marc Guiu: 6.0
Marc Guiu was brought in to replace a possibly injured Joao Felix in the 75th minute. Unable to recreate a moment quite like the one he managed against Athletic Bilbao, he was still a good runner for Barcelona against a rather motivated Shakhtar side in the dying minutes of the game.
Marc Casado: N/A
Not enough time on the field or influence on the game to warrant a rating.
Andreas Christensen: N/A
Not enough time on the field or influence on the game to warrant a rating.
