Braga attempt to take a step towards the Europa League semi-finals tomorrow as they host Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg at the Quarry.The last time the Arsenalistas faced Ukrainian opposition in the quarter-finals of this competition, in March 2011, they beat Dynamo Kyiv and made it all the way to the final. A good portent?
PortuGOAL talked to Manuel Veth from the excellent Futebolgrad, a website focusing on football throughout the post-Soviet space, to get the lowdown on the Shakhtar.
How did Shakhtar Donetsk get here? Give us a quick guide to their path to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Shakhtar were drawn into the Champions League Group A with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Malmö FF. While Shakhtar has upset big opponents in the past, both Real and PSG proved too much for a team that has seen the departure of many of its top stars in recent years. Shakhtar did, however, manage to finish the group third, which qualified them for the Europa League elimination rounds. In the round of 32 Shakhtar eliminated the German club Schalke 04 after beating them 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen. In the next round they were drawn against Anderlecht, who were easily dispatched by Shakhtar.
Season performance and current form. How have Shakhtar done this season and how have they looked form-wise in recent weeks?
Shakhtar are second in the Ukrainian Premier League three points behind Dynamo Kyiv. The club was in good form in both Europe and the Ukrainian Premier League after the winter break, but surprisingly dropped points to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on March 13, as they lost to Dnipro 4-1. They were then without match practice before the national team break as their opposition Metalurg Zaporizhya had to declare bankruptcy just days before the match. On Friday Shakhtar faced Metalurh Kharkiv, a match they won 8-1, which I assure you was not an April fool’s joke. In general the form has been phenomenal, but the match against Dnipro has left some question marks about consistency.
Ones to watch - Who are Shakhtar’s star players?
Sadly Alex Teixeira left the club in the winter, as he moved to China in a shock transfer. Yet Shakhtar still has some fascinating players to watch. The Brazilian winger Taison is a speed demon, who has also started scoring goals (he is, however, in doubt for the first match). On the other wing another Brazilian, Marlos, has also been a joy to watch, as he has been very good in the European competitions.
Then there is the brightest talent of the club, the Ukrainian Viktor Kovalenko. Kovalenko was part of the team that reached the Youth League final against Chelsea a couple years ago, and he has since made his mark in the first team. The 20-year-old might indeed be one of the most promising talents in European football right now.
Strong points/weak points – what must Braga beware of and what can they exploit?
Shakhtar are very fast, as both Taison and Marlos will try to overrun any defence they face. Kovalenko orchestrates most attacks. Also the Ukrainians have a strong defence made up of humourless Ukrainian defenders Rakytskyi and Kucher. Weaknesses include the goalkeeper Pyatov, who is prone to make mistakes. Also since the departure of Alex Teixeira Shakhtar has lacked a strong striker, and despite the recent results they can be shut down if the wingers are contained. Furthermore, the squad is not deep, and injuries can mean a real selection headache for Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu.
Formation and playing style – what system do Shakhtar usually play? Would you describe them generically as an attacking or a defensive team?
Shakhtar are an attacking team, although injuries and loss of several star players has meant that Lucescu has moved his team towards operating a bit more defensively in recent months. Shakhtar usually play in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
What are the local press saying about the tie? Who are considered favourites to progress?
The mood in Ukraine is that Shakhtar can all the way to the final like they did in 2009. Lucescu had to speak out several times that the current squad is not deep enough to actually win the competition. Yet Braga are seen as a stepping stone to the semi-final.
Mood in the camp. Judging by player/coach quotes regarding this game, do you think Shakhtar come into the match in a confident frame of mind?
Lucescu is more cautious than the press, as he is aware of the fact that his team might not be deep enough to go all the way. At the same time the players and coaching staff realise that Braga is a manageable opponent, and there is a great sense of optimism that Shakhtar could indeed reach the next round.
What do you think the result of the tie will be?
I think the fact that the return match is in Lviv – Shakhtar remain in exile due to the fighting in the Donbass – gives Shakhtar a slight advantage. Hence, I anticipate that Shakhtar will go through to the next round.
Our thanks to Manuel Veth. For more from Manuel follow him on twitter and bookmark the Futbolgrad website.
