Shakhtar centre-back named best player of match against Bologna
Defender Miner Nikolai Matvienko commented on the draw against Bologna (0:0) in the opening match of the group stage Champions League.
“Are we happy with this start? I can’t say that we are completely satisfied, but if we evaluate the game as a whole, then the result is probably logical. A 0:0 draw is a good start in the Champions League, although, of course, we really wanted to win.”
“Did you feel a drop in emotion? This is the Champions League, there can be no drop. I think the weather changed our plans a little bit, so we had to change in the middle of the match, it was a nervous game. There were also a lot of long passes.”
“How do I assess Shakhtar’s chances in this Champions League? At the very least, to get into the playoff zone.”
At the very beginning of the match, a virtuoso pass from Matvienko across the entire field allowed Eginald to jump into a striking position and expose himself to a foul by Stefan Posch. The appointed penalty was not converted by Shakhtar leader Georgiy Sudakov – his shot was blocked by Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.
Subsequently, Bologna attacked more sharply, had two big chances to score at the turn of the halves, but Gornyakov goalkeeper Dmitry Riznyk played flawlessly. The result was a natural draw 0:0.
Nikolai Matvienko himself was recognized as the best player of yesterday’s match.
In the second round of the Champions League, Shakhtar will play against Atalanta on October 2. Let us recall that Shakhtar will hold its home matches of the 2024/25 Champions League in Gelsenkirchen. Marino Pusic’s team will host their opponents at the Veltins Arena. Last season, Shakhtar’s home European arena was the Volksparkstadion in another German city, Hamburg.
Marino Pusic’s team will play their next match in the UPL on September 23 against Obolon.
Source: Sportarena
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