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Shakhtar Donetsk
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 30, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
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0-3

FT(HT: 0-2)
Aurier (7'), Luiz (23'), Srna (91' og.)

Live Commentary: Shakhtar Donetsk 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's coverage as Shakhtar Donetsk fall to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of travelling Paris Saint-Germain in Group A of the Champions League.
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Shakhtar Donetsk hosted Paris Saint-Germain in Group A of the Champions League on Wednesday night still looking to get a win in the tournament under their belt.

The Ukrainian club had very little to offer in the first period, and they were soon undone by goals from Serge Aurier and David Luiz as PSG took a 2-0 lead into half time.

The hosts were marginally improved in the second period, but they were unable to find a goal to get back into the game, leaving Zlatan Ibrahimovic to snatch another goal for the visiting Parisians late on.

Relive all of the action from the contest with our minute-by-minute coverage below.


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Good evening all and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Shakhtar Donetsk's clash with Paris Saint-Germain in Group A of the Champions League.

Donetsk are still searching for a win in the group after falling to a damaging defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, but Paris were able to get off to a winning start as they eased past Malmo on home soil on matchday one.

The Ukrainian club now that they tend to do well at home in Europe. As it stands, Shakhtar have only lost one of their last eight home games in the Champions League. That defeat came at the hands of Athletic Bilbao in November 2014.

PSG will not be looking at this fixture too ominously, however, given that they have won seven of their 10 games versus Ukrainian sides. Also, Donetsk have failed to score in their three Champions League games played this year.

Time for some team news now...

SHAKHTAR DONETSK STARTING XI: Pyatov; Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Shevchuk; Fred, Malyshev; Marlos, Teixeira, Taison; Gladkiy

SHAKHTAR DONETSK SUBSTITUTES: Kanibolotskiy, Azevedo, Ordets, Bernard, Kovalenko, Dentinho, Da Silva

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN STARTING XI: Trapp; Aurier, Silva, Luiz, Maxwell; Verratti, Motta, Matuidi; Di Maria, Ibrahimovic, Cavani

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBSTITUTES: Sirigu, Marquinhos, Kurzawa, Pastore, Moura, Rabiot, Lavezzi

The home fans will be happy to see that the in-form Alex Teixeira is starting in attack alongside Oleksandr Gladky, but they will be without Taras Stepanenko who is missing through suspension.

For PSG, the major news concerns that of David Luiz, who has overcome a knee injury in time to start. There is no place for Gregory van der Wiel, however, who has been replaced by Serge Aurier at right-back. The visitors are to lead with a forward-three of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Angel di Maria.

Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc has already made clear his intentions of going far in this tournament for the first time under his stewardship. The coach has even suggested that he my sacrifice the importance of a few domestic trophies in order to try and secure the Champions League. Here is what he has had to say to reporters: "The calendar for the national cup competitions is catastrophic for the Champions League. So we might let one of the two domestic cups go."

Donetsk really need to salvage something from this game. Given the quality of Madrid and PSG, winning home games will be of vital importance if they want to secure progression from a very tough group this autumn.

Teixeira should be a huge player for the hosts tonight and he has been in great form going into this clash, scoring seven goals in Shahktar's last four league games, including a late winner against Olimpik Donetsk at the weekend.

We are now just over ten minutes away from kickoff. This is actually the first time that these two sides have faced each other in a competitive completion. History is about to be made!

Shakhtar have won their last four domestic fixtures, while Paris have won their last two in comfortable fashion against Nantes and Guingamp.

Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta and Blaise Matuidi will have an important role to do in the middle of the park for the away side as they look to run the keep in front of an incredibly partisan crowd.

The players are now in the tunnel as we await the start of the first half, and it is time for us to make a prediction. Despite their home advantage, I still fancy PSG to take something from this game. I'm predicting 2-1 to the visiting side on the basis of that threatening forward-three in attack.

There is a fantastic atmosphere in the Arena Lviv tonight and that should provide the home side with some confidence following what has been a difficult few years in the Ukraine.

Just a few moments to go now. PSG are in white tonight, while the hosts are in an orange and black kit. The visitors will be kicking the game off!

KICKOFF! Here we go... PSG seek to keep position in a tight area in the middle of the park but the hosts crowd them out and when the ball back with ease.

Shakhtar come forward for the first time through Taison who is then brought down by Aurier on the edge of the box. The free kick is rather poor and PSG are able to clear at the first attempt.

PSG are able to get the ball under control for more than a few passes as they look to get in behind the hosts defence. Donetsk hold firm before robbing the ball and moving forward through Rakitskiy, who eventually wins a cheap corner off Maxwell.

Marlos swings in the corner, but his delivery is a poor one and the away side head clear. Di Maria brings the ball forward and looks for Cavani over the top. The pass doesn't have the required quality, leaving the home defence to shuffle across and clear.

GOAL! SHAKHTAR DONETSK 0-1 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (Serge Aurier)

Wow... PSG have the lead already and it comes from great work courtesy of Maxwell down the left flank. The full-back moves unchallenged to swing a cross towards the back post, where Aurier climbs above Taison to head past the keeper at his near post. A great cross and a great header! That is an important goal for the away side early on.

The home side begin to pile up the numbers outside the PSG box, where Fred is left free to size up the target from range. His shot does not have the accuracy and flies wide without troubling Trapp.

Aurier has to show some of his defensive skills now as he blocks out a cross from Rakitskiy on the left wing. The hosts have not really started to get moving just yet. They have offered some neat short passing, but nothing to try and open up the PSG defence.

Gladkiy shows great work ethic for Donetsk as he gets in front of Silva in the PSG half. He does not have many options and instead buys a good free kick from his marker. Unfortunately the set piece comes to nothing, as the hosts decide to move the ball in reverse to their back-line.

PSG are proving defensively effective through the middle at the moment. Instead Donetsk up for a ball over the top, but the visiting side step up well to catch Gladkiy offside.

CLOSE! Wonderful wing work from Aurier sees the full-back send a ball into the area where Ibrahimovic is lurking. The keeper and his defence miss it, leaving the big Swede to head wide of a virtually empty net. That could have been a crucial second goal!

PSG buy some space on the left flank this time through Di Maria. The Argentine has both Ibrahimovic and Cavani to pick from in the middle, but he cannot find the pass as the ball runs straight through to Pyatov who collects unchallenged.

Matuidi wins the ball back cleverly in the centre of the park before setting off Cavani. He is eventually tackled and the ball drops to Di Maria, but he cannot adjust his feet in time to get off a shot.

CLOSE! It should be 2-0... Cavani beats the offside trap down the right flank and has the box gaping in front of him. The striker moves forward and sends in a ball across the box, where Donetsk are able to make a vital clearance.

GOAL! SHAKHTAR DONETSK 0-2 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (David Luiz)

The away side have a second now and you can only blame the home defending for this one. Di Maria sends a simple ball towards the near post and Donetsk miss two headers before the ball clips off of Luiz and loops up beyond the home stopper. Bizarre...

Donetsk manage to get hold of the ball and they move down the right through Srna. The full-back cuts inside to find some space before delivering a cross into the centre of the box. Silva is up first and he connects with a smart header to clear.

MISS! More shocking defending from the home side sees Maxwell lift a simple long ball forward for Di Maria, who is left one-on-one with the keeper. The frontman goes for the lob, but gets it horribly wrong and sends his effort wide of the post.

Neither side has been that creative thus far, but PSG have been the more clinical of the two. You have to say, however, that Donetsk have defended with a shocking kamikaze attitude and deserve to be behind now.

PSG look like they are starting to enjoy this now as they move the ball across the pitch with creative flair. Matuidi goes in down the right, but gets called back for a foul when it looks like he has outmuscled his man. Strange decision from the official, there...

Donetsk finally show some good work on the edge of the area to win a free kick from Matuidi. The resulting kick from Srna beats the wall only to fly straight down the throat of a delighted Trapp in the middle of the PSG goal.

Shakhtar are not doing much to improve themselves in the closing stages of the first half. They have had a fair share of the ball, but are merely passing it around far too slowly and with no intent whatsoever.

Things get a touch casual between Trapp and Luiz, leaving Donetsk to win a cheap corner. The ball soon drops to Rakitskiy on the edge of the area, who fires a first-time volley over the bar without testing the target.

More possession from the hosts although things seem to keep breaking down in the final third of the pitch. This time Srna is thwarted down the right channel by Maxwell, who gets stuck in to win a rather meaty challenge on the Croatian.

CLOSE! Taison produces some standout skill to get past Silva on the byline. He squares the ball across the box to Malyshev, but Trapp is able to pull off a vital save.

Taison has some space in the middle and he spots the brilliant run of Kucher down the flank, but the midfielder's pass has too much on it and the ball runs out for a goal kick. PSG will welcome half time at the moment, they will want to keep this two-goal lead intact.

HALF TIME: SHAKHTAR DONETSK 0-2 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

So the referee brings the first half to a close with PSG holding a deserved lead at the break. The visitors have not been outstanding, but have made use of some very standard defending from Donetsk. Di Maria missed a vital chance to wrap things up and he will be hoping that his miss does not return to haunt the Parisians in the second half.

Mircea Lucescu's side have had lots of the ball, although they have been unable to do anything with it. Added to that has been some appalling defending from crosses and the offside trap. They could still be well in this game had they not made such basic errors. Credit to PSG, however, given that they have been clinical for the most part of this encounter.

Donetsk had 13 dangerous attacks in that first period, compared to PSG's 17. The French champions have evidently made better use of theirs. Blanc's side have just about shaded possession with 53% of the ball so far.

The hosts had 11 shots in the first half, but were only able to register two of those on target. PSG, meanwhile, have produced five attempts in total and scored two goals.

Luiz has been impressive and here is a quick picture of him celebrating his side's second goal:

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender David Luiz (C) celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League group A football match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Paris Saint-Germain at the Arena Lviv, in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, on September© Getty Images


Blanc will want more of the same in the second period as PSG do not have to chase anything in this game. Donetsk need to find a goal from somewhere and could be hit again on the counter if they decide to open up as things progress.

The players are now back out on the pitch as we await the start of the second half...

KICKOFF! Donetsk kick things off in the second half with a press forward down into the left corner. The cross is a poor one, however, leaving Maxwell to hoof away.

The home side have started brightly and have enjoyed the majority of the ball. Maxwell has to show some good communication with Trapp in the middle of the box to see away some danger from Donetsk.

Alex Teixeira shows great composure on the edge of the PSG area to slip in Gladkiy on the overlap. The frontman thinks that he is through one-on-one with Trapp, only for the linesman to raise his flag. That was close for the hosts...

Donetsk come back again as Taison finds some space on the edge of the PSG area. The midfielder pulls the trigger and his effort misses the near post by a matter of inches.

Maxwell comes forward for the first time in the second half and he shows great feet to beat his man. He picks up his head to produce a cross for Cavani in the middle, but Donetsk are able to head away the danger.

CLOSE! PSG see a move break down on the edge of the area, but the ball only drops to an on-rushing Verratti. The youngster flashes a shot towards goal, but is denied by a superb block from Rakitskiy as he diverts the ball over the bar when it looked certain to find the back of the net.

CLOSE! Manchester United might be glad that they got rid. Verratti produces a defence-splitting ball over the top for Di Maria, who is again left one-on-one with the Shakhtar stopper. The Argentine goes for the same finish as in the first half, and this time lifts his chip high and wide over the bar. He should have secured a brace already. As for Donetsk, yet more shoddy defending...

Glimpses of brilliance now from Di Maria as he skips past two men down the right flank. He has both Cavani and Ibrahimovic waiting in the middle, but cannot find either of them with a poor cross that goes out for a throw.

The home team have not given up on this just yet and Taison slips in a neat pass into Rakitskiy down the left channel. The defender's cross is a poor one, though, and PSG are able to collect and move forward.

Blanc is cutting a frustrated figure on the sidelines at the moment. His side should be further ahead in this game and the manager might be looking to rest some of his players ahead of their looming clash with Marseille at the weekend. As it stands, he needs to keep his men on with Donetsk just about still in this.

Taison has been rather poor this evening. He has possession once more in a dangerous area on the edge of the box, but his pass out towards the left channel is too heavy and Rakitskiy is unable to gather as the ball runs out for a goal kick.

The sting has just started to creep out of this game with PSG looking to shut things down in the remaining 20 minutes.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Marlos comes off in place of Viktor Kovalenko, while Taison is replaced by Bernard for the hosts.

Donetsk enjoy their best spell of the game on the edge of the PSG box, where the ball finally breaks to Malyshev. His shot fails to test Trapp and PSG get away with some rather slack defending. The visitors still lead by two...

CLOSE! Almost for Donetsk as Srna swings in a ball towards the back post where Gladkiy is unable to nod the ball back into an unmarked Rakitskiy.

Shakhtar are slowing improving, but this is all coming far too late in the encounter. PSG push forward for the first time in a while through Maxwell, who should be given a free kick but instead is forced to concede a throw. The away team are doing what they can to take the tempo out of the clash as we approach the close.

SAVE! Alex Teixeira shows great feet this time to move into the PSG box. He beats his marker to find some space and fire a wicked shot towards the bottom corner, where Trapp is able to get across and make a fine save.

OFF THE BAR! What does Teixeira have to do? This time he beats Silva to a cross towards the near post and turns an adroit shot over Trapp and onto the crossbar. Inches, just inches, to giving Donetsk a lifeline in this game.

PSG have offered very little in the last 15 minutes other than the sort of play reserved for training matches. They are simply looking to take time and energy out of the contest.

SUBSTITUTION: Javier Pastore comes on to replace Di Maria in PSG's attacking line.

PSG should perhaps have a third as Ibrahimovic brings the ball down on the edge of the box. His marker backs off to give him space, but the Swede's shot is blocked on its way to goal.

Five minutes plus stoppage time left to go in the Ukraine, what can Shakhtar do? At the moment they are bossing possession, but have been unable to unlock the visiting defence. Luiz has just gone into the book for a clumsy foul on Dentinho on the edge of the area, but the kick turns out to be poor.

OVER THE BAR PSG make a hash of two clearances and are unable to move the ball out from their box. Alex Teixeira steals in at the far post only to send his volley over the target from close range when it looks easier to score.

YELLOW CARD! Silva goes into the book for a foul on Teixeira. The ball is then whipped into the PSG box, leaving the visitors to clear at the first attempt.

GOAL! SHAKHTAR DONETSK 0-3 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (Zlatan Ibrahimovic)

Zlatan is able to kill the game off late in the day... The striker gambles to reach a forward ball and his poke past the keeper is helped on its way by Srna, who might just have conceded an own goal. The officials might have to clear that up later on.

FULL TIME: SHAKHTAR DONETSK 0-3 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

The referee brings an end to a comfortable victory for the Parisians, who have profited extensively from some poor defending from Donetsk tonight. The Ukrainian team have now lost both of their opening games in Group A, while PSG have claimed six points from the six on offer. It looks as though ti might be between Blanc's side and Madrid now as to who will take top spot in the group come the end of the winter. That's going to be all from me tonight, take care!

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