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Barcelona locked in a routine 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, October 26.
Barca entered this match on the back of three wins and two draws in their last five outings. Their last game was a narrow 1-0 win over Athletic Club in La Liga as they looked to keep pace with leaders Real Madrid. Xavi Hernandez went with a strong lineup for this game as Inigo Martinez slotted into the backline.
Shakhtar, conversely, arrived in Spain on the back of four wins and one defeat in their last five outings. Their last game was a comfortable 3-0 defeat over FC LNZ and they looked to carry their good run of form into this game as well.
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Barcelona made a good start to the first half and did enough to prevent Shakhtar from settling into a rhythm and denied them comfort. They were also clinical in the final third and scored the opening goal after 29 minutes. Fermin Lopez's shot deflected off the post and fell to Ferran Torres, who smashed it in to make it 1-0.
Lopez then snatched a goal of his own shortly after with a thumping strike which went in off the right post to make it 2-0 after 36 minutes.
Shakhtar kept the ball for decent spells but failed to create any significant chances or even hit the target in the first period as they trailed by two goals at the break.
Barcelona made a dynamic start to the second half as well and appeared to have extended their lead just before the hour-mark. However, the goal was ruled out and Shakhtar capitalized as they pulled a goal back just moments later with a counter-attack down the other end, finished by Georgiy Sudakov to make it 2-1.
Several substitutions and multiple chances later, neither Barcelona nor Shakhtar were able to score another goal as the hosts held on to secure a 2-1 win.
On that note, let's take a look at the five talking points from this game.
#5. Ferran Torres opens the scoring for Barcelona
Barca made a solid start to the game and looked to blow Shakhtar out of the water as they attacked relentlessly in the first period. This rewarded them with two timely goals, with the first one coming from Ferran Torres.
The former Manchester City man was on the edge of the box when Fermin Lopez ghosted into the box before firing a shot goalwards. His effort struck the crossbar and bounced out and fell straight to Torres. With nobody guarding the goal, he fired a first-timed shot to make it 1-0 after 29 minutes.
#4. Fermin Lopez makes it two with a thumping strike
Barcelona continued to take the initiative and create attacking chances as they looked to kill the game before Shakhtar could settle. They doubled their lead just seven minutes after scoring in the first half.
Fermin Lopez was played into space by Torres and he weighed up his options on the edge of the penalty area before shooting. The youngster then fired the ball off the post and into the net to make it 2-0 after 36 minutes.
#3. Shakhtar scored with their first shot on target
Having failed to register an attempt on target in the entire first half, Shakhtar had to wait until the 62nd minute for their first one. They played most of the game on the counter-attack and were set up with pacey forwards and wingers to execute the plan.
Fullback Irakli Azarovi showed great patience as he held the ball on the left flank and waited for Georgiy Sudakov to make a darting run through midfield. Azarovi then released his teammate into open space as he drove forward and scored with a first-time shot to pull one back for the visitors at 2-1 after 62 minutes.
#2. Joao Felix injury woes ahead of El Clasico this weekend
Despite seemingly cruising to victory in terms of the scoreline and the control Barcelona exterted on Shakhtar today, they ended the game with some bad news. Joao Felix faced discomfort towards the end of the contest and had to be subbed off in the 75th minute with injury concerns.
With Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong already ruled out, Felix could be the latest player set to miss the 'El Clasico' against Real Madrid this weekend.
#1. Barca maintain perfect start to Champions League campaign
Having already won their previous two group games, the Catalans made it three in three with a win over Shakhtar at home. The result sees them extend their lead at the top of Group H to six points over FC Porto as they sit atop with nine points.
Barcelona will travel to face the Ukrainian side in the return leg on November 7.
