Shakhtar Donetsk maintained their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League with a decisive 2-0 victory over Brest on Wednesday, handing the French side their second defeat of the campaign and complicate their own bid for direct qualification.
The match was held at the Arena AufSchalke, Germany, where Shakhtar displayed early aggression and capitalized effectively on Brest errors. Brazilian forward Kevin opened the scoring with just 18 minutes on the clock after capitalizing on a mistake from Brest captain Brendan Chardonnet, whose heavy touch allowed him to race through and finish past goalkeeper Marco Bizot. This marks the second consecutive win for Shakhtar, fueling their ambitions of escaping the league phase of the tournament.
Brest, who had previously proven to be one of the tournament's surprises, found themselves needing to secure points to maintain their top-eight position, which would guarantee them direct passage to the next round. Despite this setback, they remain assured of at least entering the playoff round due to their initial tally of 13 points.
The Ukrainian champions doubled their lead shortly before halftime when Georgiy Sudakov converted a penalty awarded after Irakli Azarov was fouled by Bizot. Sudakov's cheeky Panenka saw Shakhtar head to the locker room with a comfortable two-goal cushion.
Despite facing pressure from Brest early in the second half, Shakhtar held firm. Goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk proved instrumental, thwarting several attempts from the French side as they tried to claw back the deficit. Brest struggled to break through Shakhtar's tightly formed 4-1-4-1 setup, showing little of the attacking sharpness they had displayed earlier this tournament.
The match represented Shakhtar’s growing confidence as they adapted their tactics, shifting from aggressive attacking play to solid defensive organization after the break. Coach Oleksandr Shovkovskiy made key substitutions to maintain their lead, successfully keeping Brest at bay by employing their defensive prowess.
After the hour mark, Brest increased their possession, trying to outmaneuver the Shakhtar rearguard, but their final ball was lacking precision. Coach Eric Roy made three substitutions, including introducing top scorer Abdallah Sima, yet the changes yielded no results. Their inability to convert opportunities would prove costly.
Late attempts by Shakhtar to add to their tally were thwarted, including one disallowed goal, but the two-goal margin was enough to secure all three points. This win moves Shakhtar temporarily within reach of playoff qualification, positioning them for the last match against potential rivals for advancement.
The defeat leaves Brest with significant pressure heading as they prepare to host reigning European champions Real Madrid next week. To secure their top-eight finish and avoid the playoff round, Brest must secure victory against one of the toughest opponents imaginable.
The match statistics painted a picture of two halves: Shakhtar dominated the first, scoring both goals and having eight attempts compared to Brest's three. While they enjoyed just 30% possession after halftime, they effectively relied on resolute defending to maintain their lead.
All eyes will now be on the concluding fixtures, as both teams strive for their respective objectives. While Shakhtar can take heart from their performance, Brest must regroup quickly as they face the formidable challenge awaiting them against Real Madrid.