Calendar week divided the Kharkov and Lisbon parts of the confrontation between the current champions of Ukraine and Portugal. Shakhtar defeated Benfica in the first duel match with absolutely no promise in terms of the two-match confrontation - 2: 1, from which the battle for reaching the 1/8 finals on the field of the Da Luzh stadium began almost from scratch.

And what generally could be changed to the coaching staffs on both sides in such a short period between the European Cup games? Both Shakhtar and Benfica managed to conduct only one game in the framework of their national championships, the course and result of which was unlikely to please the fans of the teams. While the Pitmen were impressed by the first use of VAR in the Ukrainian Premier League during their match against the Chernigov Desna (1-0), the Eagles at the beginning of the match sentenced Zhil Vicente to defeat thanks to a goal from Vinicius, and then brought the game to.

Only possible rosters for both coaches have changed. After the disqualifications, Dodo and Julian Weigl returned, which allowed the head coaches to think about the rotation. As a result, both players added to the starting lineups of the teams, in which from the side of Shakhtar there was no place for one of the heroes of the game in Kharkov - Viktor Kovalenko. Failure to heal on time failed.

As for the direct course of the match, the Pitmen would not have looked like themselves if they had not made their fans seriously nervous during an important duel. Benfica started aggressively, and a couple of shots towards the goal of Pyatov was soon exchanged for the first goal of the home team. The interaction between Grimaldo and Pizzi on the left flank of the penalty area ended in a strike for execution into the far corner of Pyatov's goal, which risked sending Shakhtar to psychological knockdown.

And we must pay tribute to the Kashtru team. The Donetsk team not only withstood the onslaught, but also immediately rejected the missed goal. Connecting the Dodo on the right flank of the attack ended with a cross from the Brazilian along the penalty area, which could have closed Moraes, but Diash decided to get ahead of the striker, having literally poisoned the ball himself in the net.

Benfica had to think about her future urgently, which no Portuguese club likes to do. So we saw Shakhtar dominating in control of the ball in the middle of the first half. However, a couple of attacks from the Donetsk team brought to their gates as a result of inaccurate passes in the center of the field could not but cause alarm. Kashtru team “played out” to the second goal conceded during the rivals ’standard position. Matvienko decided not to keep Diash while serving from Pitsiya from the right flank.

The break passed very quickly - the game dictated the pace of expectation of continued football action. And it would be better if it were otherwise, because Matvienko’s mood was completely spoiled, from which one of the possible winter transfers of the London Arsenal did not sing properly to enter during the second half. The next delivery of the central defender forced Andrei Pyatov to throw himself out of the goal line, but Souza played trickier by playing on Rafu Silva, who was standing next to him, after which the midfielder threw the Ukrainian goalkeeper.

But the Donetsk team seemed to be waiting for this third goal. The spring loosened during a corner from the left flank from Tyson, and Taras Stepanenko hit the ball into the net with a header from close range. This was definitely to be seen! Like the feints of Shakhtar defensive midfielder during the compensated time, when the opponent finally gave up.

“Eagles” in crisis, from which their attempts to regain height in the reporting period looked like a sad sight. And what the Pitmen had to do? That's right, to carry out a classic combination with a cross of Ismaily from the left flank, which the defenders wanted, but could not, take out of the penalty. Patrick is the first on the rebound - the final nail in the lid of the Portuguese ambitions in European cups this season was hammered with a spectacular rebound from the lawn! 3: 3!

Thus, from this pair in the 1/8 finals of the Europa League came the Ukrainian team. Wards Brun Lage had to prematurely finish the European Cup season.

Benfica vs Shakhtar 3: 3 (first match - 1: 2).

Goals: Pizzi, 9, Diash, 36, Silva, 47 - Diash, 12 (bus. ), Stepanenko, 49, Alan Patrick, 71.

Benfica: Vladachos - T. Tavares, Diash, Ferru, Grimaldo - Chiquinho (Seferovich, 68), Weigl, Taarabt, Silva - Pizzi (Zhota, 79), Souza (Vinicius, 79).

Shakhtar: Pyatov - Dodo, Krivtsov, Matvienko, Ismaily - Stepanenko, Marcos Antonio - Marlos (Tete, 62), Alan Patrick, Tyson (Konoplyanka, 86) - Moraes.

Warnings: Silva - Ismaily, Tyson, Linnet.