Champions League wrap: Sikan scores as Shakhtar shock Barcelona

Champions League: Shakhtar 1 Barcelona 0

[Sikan 40]

Danylo Sikan’s towering header gave Shakhtar Donetsk a 1-0 win against La Liga champions Barcelona in their Champions League Group H clash on Tuesday.

It was a disappointing display from the Spanish side who won their first three games in the competition and needed one point to book a place in the last 16 with two games remaining.

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Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez made several changes to his starting eleven and, despite dominating possession throughout the match, struggled against a well-organised Shakhtar defence, earning only one shot on target in the game.

The Ukrainian side, playing in Hamburg, were aggressive on the counter-attack, with Sikan giving them a shock lead against the five-time European champions in the 40th minute.

The 22-year-old forward jumped behind defender Andreas Christensen to meet a Giorgi Gocholeishvili cross from the right touchline and nodded the ball just out of reach of Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Barca goal.

After halftime, Gocholeishvili won the ball off defender Marcos Alonso and unleashed a strike straight into the chest of Ter Stegen.

The goalkeeper made another brilliant reflex save with his right foot to deny a close-range effort by Sikan in the 52nd minute and Newerton later had a goal ruled out for offside.

[ ‘Nothing can sway us’: inside Shakhtar’s quest for glory in wartime ]

Barca were unable to threaten opposition goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk until Xavi made four substitutions at once in the 60th minute, with Joao Felix and Lamine Yamal coming off the bench to give the visitors a much-needed spark.

However, Shakhtar held firm against some late pressure to seal the three points.

“The Champions League demands the highest level and today we didn’t give it, we leave angry. Intensity? No, today I would put it down to the game, we didn’t play well. We have to recover and improve,” Xavi told Movistar Plus.

Round-up

Erling Haaland scored twice as holders Manchester City cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League with two group games remaining after a 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their 100 per cent record and lead Group G with 12 points from four games. Young Boys, who were reduced to 10 men when Sandro Lauper was shown a red card in the 53rd minute, are fourth in the group with one point.

City applied pressure from kickoff and Haaland broke the deadlock from a penalty in the 23rd minute after Lauper’s tackle on Matheus Nunes in the box. The Norwegian striker pumped a fist in the air after sending goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi the wrong way.

Phil Foden doubled City’s lead seconds before halftime when Jack Grealish spotted him out wide. The England midfielder cut into the box and beat Racioppi with a low shot.

Haaland’s second goal - and fourth in two games against Young Boys - was a beautiful left-footed rocket from 20 yards out in the 51st minute. The 23-year-old was subbed off to a standing ovation from the home crowd a few minutes later.

Elsewhere in the group, RB Leipzig beat Crvena zvezda 2-1 in Serbia thanks to goals from Xavi Simons and Lois Openda to ensure qualification for the last 16.

FC Porto stayed on course for a place in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-0 home victory over 10-man Royal Antwerp thanks to Evanilson’s first half penalty and veteran Pepe’s late header in the Group H clash on Tuesday.

A first-half goal by Ciro Immobile handed Lazio a 1-0 home win over Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday to move Maurizio Sarri’s side up to second in Group E.

French champions PSG were beaten 2-1 by AC Milan at the San Siro, the Parisiens took the lead through Milan Skriniar but goals by Rafa Leao and Olivier Giroud put Milan right back into contention in Group F.