Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund's win over Shahktar Donetsk made their UEFA Champions League knockouts path a little clearer, with a last 16 play-off against either Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge to come.
Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Goals: 1-0 Guirassy 17' (assist: Adeyemi), 2-0 Guirassy 44' (assist: Brandt), 2-1 Marlon 50', 3-1 Bensebaini (assist: Reyna)
Dortmund dominated from the off at Signal Iduna Park, knocking the ball around with menacing intent. Their opener came after 17 minutes, after Karim Adeyemi latched onto a lofted pass from Nico Schlotterbeck before driving inside his marker and shooting. That low effort was intercepted by Serhou Guirassy, who applied a poacher’s finish to hand his side an early lead. Shakhtar grew into the game, fashioning several half chances, but were outdone on the counter just before the break. It was Guirassy again, this time speeding onto a Julian Brandt through ball before cooly slotting beyond the goalkeeper. The goal was the Guinean’s ninth in eight Champions League appearances so far this season.
Guirassy almost made it 3-0 immediately after the break, only to see his powerful low header denied by the outstretched leg of Dmytro Diznyk. Yet Dortmund’s encouraging start to the half was quickly undone by an error from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The Swiss dithered too long on an innocuous back-pass, allowing Marlon to charge in and bundle the ball into an empty net in the 50th minute. The Ukranians pushed relentlessly for an equaliser – goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk on alert to halt sporadic Dortmund attacks when they arose. Yet despite their efforts, Dortmund held firm in the lashing rain. Their resistance held until Ramy Bensebaini restored the two-goal cushion in the 79th minute following a neat exchange with Giovanni Reyna. However, with the likes of Lille, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa also winning, three points alone weren’t enough to see Tullberg’s side directly into the last 16.
Teams
Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson, Can (c), Sclotterbeck, Bensebaini (Anton 89’) – Brandt (Reyna 64’), Sabitzer, Beier (Groß 46’) – Gittens (Yan Couto 85’), Guirassy, Adeyemi (Duranville 64’)
Subs: Meyer, Lotka, Campbell, Wätjen, Mane, Kabar, Azhil
Out: Süle (ankle), Nmecha (knee)
Coach: Mike Tullberg
Donetsk: Riznyk – Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, Azarov – Kryskiv (Stepanenko 88’) – Zubkov (Traoré 73’), Marlon (Bodarenko 84’), Sudakov, Kevin – Pedrinho (Newertton 84’)
Subs: Tvardovskyi, Fesiun, Shved, Pedro Henrique, Ghram, Konoplia, Faryna
Out: -
Coach: Pusic Marino
As it happened!
The referee signals for an additional four minutes to be played.
There's not long left but the away side admirably keep pressing for a goal. It doesn't feel totally dead and buried just yet.
Bensebaini plays a tidy one two with Reyna, latching onto the American's back-heeled return into the area. The defender holds his nerve, taking his time before gently lifting his effort over Riznyk and into the net. That elusive third goal is theirs.
Guirassy steals the ball on the edge of the Shakthar area and plays a neat one-two before curling an effort towards the left post. It goes just wide and out for a goal kick.
A neat backheel from Reyna sends Gittens speeding down the left flank. He spots a run from Guirassy and slips the striker in behind the defence. Riznyk charges out to close the angle and watches as the striker lofts one over him. It goes agonisingly wide of the near post.
The visitors stroke the ball around smartly in the BVB half. They want this leveller.
Ryerson floats in a free kick from the left flank and Bensebaini flicks it on powerfully towards the far right post. But Riznyk rises to tip it over the crossbar. Brilliant save.
The Englishman beats two men down the left flank and drives into the box. His low cross is blocked behind for a corner.
It's a ridiculous mistake by Kobel, who dithers too long on the ball and is caught by Marlon. The Shakhtar man charges in to block the goalkeeper's attempted clearance and the ball dribbles into an empty net.
Ryerson fizzes in free-kick from the left-hand side. Guirassy meets it and sends a powerful header down towards the bottom right corner. But Riznyk makes a sensational stop with his outstretched leg to send it up and over the crossbar.
BVB clear the ball long into the Shakhtar half, where a bustling Brandt wins it before slipping it through to a rampant Guirassy. The Guinean races clear of his marker, moves into the area and smacks a low shot beyond Riznyk. It's a superb counter and a wonderfully composed finish from the big man.
The home side dominate the ball as we edge towards half-time.
Sudakov is picked out behind the BVB defence and moves into the area with the ball. He shoots from a wide angle but Schlotterbeck gets back to make a brilliant block. He sends the ball behind for a corner before jumping up and roaring his delight towards the stands.
Gittens breaks down the left flank and beats his man with a couple of step overs. He makes space to shoot but it's blocked behind for a corner.
Ryerson's inswinging free-kick is flicked onto Schlotterbeck, who steers his header just over the crossbar.
Gittens is hacked down on the edge of the Shakhtar box. Ryerson lines up to take the resulting free kick.
The visitors enjoy a good spell in possession, working the ball smartly down the right before Pedrinho unleashes a shot from the edge of the area. It's easily blocked but Shakhtar regain possession and maintain pressure.
Schlotterbeck rises highest to meet a Ryerson corner, but it's a little too high for the Germany international and his header floats gently into the arms of Riznyk.
Beier loses the ball inside the Shakhtar box and races after it. His challenge is a little overzealous and he's rightly booked.
The Englishman receives the corner short and turns his marker before fizzing a dangerous ball across the area. Riznyk punches clear.
Guirassy is hacked down from behind and wins a free kick just outside the Shakhtar area. Sabitzer hits it but the wall does it's job and it sails out for a corner.
Schlotterbeck lobs a delightful ball over the Shakhtar back line, onto the toe of a galloping Adeyemi. The forward cuts inside his marker and curls a shot towards the far post. The goalkeeper commits, only for Guirassy to intercept the shot and bundle it over the line. Dortmund up to ninth as things stand.
Zubkov speeds down the right wing before sending a low shot towards the far corner. Kobel gets down quickly to parry away. The game's first chance goes the visitors' way.
Ryerson wins the ball inside the Shakhtar half and slips in Beier, who chases after the ball inside the opposition box. It's just ahead of the forward, however, and a grateful Riznyk gathers. Positive stuff from BVB.
Shakhtar have grown into the game but it's very cagey from both teams so far, as you might expect given what's at stake tonight.
The Black-Yellows dominate the ball in the early stages as Shakhtar sit deep inside their own half.
Borussia Dortmund get us underway at Signal-Iduna Park.
Dortmund are unbeaten in four previous meetings against Shakhtar (W3, D1). The latter have fared better away against other German opposition, defeating RB Leipzig 4-1 in 2022/23 and Hoffenheim 3-2 in 2018/19.
Riznyk – Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, Azarov – Kryskiv – Zubkov, Marlon, Sudakov, Kevin – Pedrinho
Tvardovskyi, Fesiun, Traoré, Stepanenko, Shved, Pedro Henrique, Ghram, Bodarenko, Konoplia, Newertton, Faryna
Kobel – Ryerson, Can (c), Sclotterbeck, Bensebaini – Brandt, Sabitzer, Beier – Gittens, Guirassy, Adeyemi