Champions League
Andrey POLUNIN: “I hope Shakhtar can surprise Porto”
In the final match of the Champions League group stage on December 13, Shakhtar’s away players have to beat Porto to qualify for the play-offs in a very prestigious tournament.
Former Ukraine national team midfielder Andrey Polunin In his meeting with Sport.ua reporter, he evaluated the opponents’ chances in today’s match in Portugal:
– We must believe in miracles. Who could have predicted that the modest “Girona”, whose away squad included Ukrainians Viktor Tsygankov and Artem Dovbyk, would confidently beat the famous “Barcelona” in La Liga or that the little-known Danish “Copenhagen” would make it to the play-offs? Will United, the legendary “Manchester” of the Champions League and the English, leave the European Cup race early? I hope today our Shakhtar can surprise the Porto players and achieve a positive result.
– Then please explain what factors could contribute to the Pitmen’s victory?
– You know, I liked how Shakhtar head coach Marino Pusic, at the pre-match press conference, focused on the fact that those who are 100 percent ready, not only in terms of play but also psychologically, will take the field today. I believe the pitmen will be more motivated.
Secondly, the importance of surnames in football has long ceased. Shakhtar proved this recently in the Champions League, when their elite rival Barcelona barely threatened the home team’s goal and deservedly lost. Although the transfer cost of the Spanish giants’ players is much higher than that of the Pitmen. And all this happened because Shakhtar adopted effective tactics in a situation where every player clearly knew his maneuvers. I hope that during the preparation the Donetsk team carefully studied the strengths and weaknesses of the Portuguese club and settled in the correct scheme. Another “trump card” of the guests is the good organization of the game in the last matches, which is the merit of the new helmsman Marino Pusic. They say your opponent is playing the way you allow. I believe that today’s match will go according to the Pitmen’s scenario.
The fact that the Donetsk team will only be content with a victory will force them to act with maximum concentration from the first minutes. This is a plus for Shakhtar. Also, a lot will depend on whether an early goal is scored or not. As you can see, there are many components that can affect the final result. Even though most experts see Porto as the favorite, I believe in miracles.
– Today’s competitors are united by the fact that they receive serious dividends from the sale of their “stars”.
– You are right. There is no doubt that the match in Porto will be a kind of showcase of how valuable the leaders of both teams really are. Their game will definitely attract the attention of observers from more famous and rich clubs. Players are well aware of this, and it only increases interest in the conflict. I really want Shakhtar to take a 1:0 lead and the winning goal to be scored by Georgiy Sudakov, who already has a number of potential buyers lined up for him.
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
We continue to examine the future of Donetsk shakhtar To buy tickets directly to the main stage Champions League 2026/27.
This will be possible if the place reserved for the team that wins the Champions League trophy is redistributed.
All important moments of the match are available in LIVE mode Telegram Sport.ua
Donetsk Miner They are in fourth place with a coefficient of 50.250 among the clubs competing for a possible position at the heart of the Champions League.
In the last European week, the Donetsk club added +2.625 points. This increase was achieved with a 0-0 draw with Croatian Rijeka in the 6th round of the Conference League and a sixth place in the main round final table.
Main rival Greek Olympiacos – 56,500 points remaining. The Miners can regain the 6,250-point lead if they perform well in the spring part of the European Cups.
It is interesting that Shakhtar lost the first place in the UPL (Cherkasy has the same number of points as LNZ – 35 points each), and Olympiacos lost the lead in Greece to the AEK team (36 points against 37). Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk plays for the team of the city of Piraeus.
Positions rangers (59,250), 4th in Scotland and Copenhagen (53.375), placed 5th in Denmark, looks less competitive in the rankings due to its position in the national championships. Leader only in championships Dinamo Zagreb And RB Salzburg (44,000 each) but there is no certainty that the turn will come.
Let us remind you that if the cup holder buys a ticket to the Champions League through the national championship, there will be a vacancy in the main squad in the 2026/27 Champions League. In this case, a balance will arise again and if Shakhtar wins the UPL and is ahead of Olympiacos in the UEFA club rankings (or the Greek club does not become the champion of Greece), it can get a direct ticket to the base of the Champions League.
If the Piraeus team is higher in the rankings and takes advantage of the available space, the Donetsk club will start from the 4th quarter of the Champions League, not the 2nd quarter, in case they win in the UPL.
Candidates for direct tickets to the Champions League 2026/27 main stage
(In case the quota reserved for the Champions League champion becomes vacant)
UEFA Club Rankings 2026
infographics
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Champions League
Pedri commented on the new format of the Champions League: An unexpected look from a football player
Barcelona midfielder pedri He answered the question about his attitude towards the new format of the Champions League with the general group stage.
“Do I like the new format of the Champions League? I can’t say with 100% certainty which format I like more: this one or the previous one?”
If I have to choose, I will do something new: There were more matches between strong teams in the first stage,” said Pedri, as quoted by Esquire.
Before the 2024/2025 season, the group stage of the Champions League consisted of eight groups of four clubs each. All participants played six matches in their respective foursomes, home and away, against each of the three opponents.
From the 2024/2025 season, a new Champions League format comes into force with a common group stage of 36 clubs; each participant plays eight matches, four away and four at home; The opponents are determined by lot.”
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Earlier, English Manchester City played a match against French Monaco in a new round of the UEFA Champions League.
After the match, the head coach of the “Locals” Pep Guardiola commented on the performance of the powerful team.
“In football you can always perform better – and this is the result. Our game today was very good in many ways. And step by step we will improve our results.”
Ale mi gave many speeches today in the right way. We created many scoring opportunities and found Phil Foden active in the first half. Most Gravians played at a fairly high level.
Previously, they did not let their opponents create anything, but created the chances themselves. We adapted very well to the superniks and played very well. This is my opinion.
If you get a good match on the right side, of course you have to… Today we got a great ball, that’s all I can tell you right away.
Holland? It’s really good. He plays to score goals. He struggled with three centre-backs and two supporting defenders in front of him, and it wasn’t easy for his partners to know that. Ale, we can work hard to score goals.
Tse bula spravdi garna gra. We created a lot of chances, but unfortunately in the end we didn’t defend perfectly against a free kick, which would have been quite a few, and we conceded a penalty, which was awarded when the ball hit the first one… well, that’s it.
Referee? “I have nothing to say to the Spanish referees,” said the Spanish footballer.
In the coming round, English Manchester City will visit Spanish Villarreal.
Source: Football UA
Alberta Robinson is a sports journalist and author, who is currently associated with the publication Sportish, where she writes about sports related news and events. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, Robinson brings in-depth analysis and insightful commentary to her writing.
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