Shakhtar Donetsk vs Celtic LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Celtic held in Warsaw
Celtic search for first win in Champions League group stages as they face Shakhtar Donetsk
It was a bruising matchday 1 for Celtic who fell to a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid at Celtic Park. The Scottish Premiership champions held their own for almost an hour earning cheers and support from the fans before Vinicius Junior opened the scoring and Luka Modric quickly added a second for the visitors. Eden Hazard scored for the first time in an age to firmly tip the game in Madrid’s favour and inflict a defeat on Celtic that leaves them bottom of Group F.
Following the loss, manager Ange Postecoglou promised to bring his team up to Champions League level and repay the faith that the supporters have shown in them. He said: “I feel that responsibility and I want to get us up to this level so that this club and these fans get what they deserve.”
Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk have reached a lease agreement with Legia Warsaw to play their Champions League home games in Poland due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are in good form and cruised past RB Leipzig 4-1 last week to move top of the group before this round of fixtures. On Saturday, Oleh Ocheretko came off the bench to earn Shakhtar a 96th minute winner against Chornomorets Odesa and extend their winning run to four games. Can Celtic shock the Ukrainian side or will they continue their winning ways against the Scottish champions?
Follow all the Champions League action as Shakhtar Donetsk host Celtic:
Celtic’s group stage record
A 3-0 win away to Anderlecht on Matchday 2 in 2017/18 is one of only two Celtic victories in their last 21 games in the Champions League, group stage and beyond.
They have lost 16 times in that run.
That victory over Anderlecht is also Celtic’s only victory in their last 12 away games in the Champions League proper with the hoops losing nine.
Latest odds: Shakhtar vs Celtic
Celtic are the surprising favourites to win tonight’s match with Betfair pricing them at the 13/10. Those odds will in part be down to their solid first half performance against Real Madrid last week but Ange Postecoglou’s men will need to be more clinical if they hope to bring something away from Poland this evening.
Shakhtar Donetsk to win 2/1
The draw 13/5
Celtic to win 13/10
Celtic to wear black armbands for the Queen
All Scottish Premiership fixtures were cancelled over the weekend as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday so Celtic have had a week to prepare for tonight’s game.
A Uefa statement onTuesday suggested that a moment of silence will be observed and black armbands will be worn by British teams away from home during this matchday.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou said: "I have been very fortunate in that, in my role, I have travelled the world and one thing I have learned is to respect everyone’s culture.
"I have learned to respect people’s culture and abide by whatever obligations I have personally and whatever the club has - and that’s what we will be doing tomorrow."
Shakhtar vs Celtic
Celtic are in the Champions League group stage for the 11th time with their most recent campaign coming in 2017/18.
Shakhtar Donetsk are in the group stage for the 17th time and this is their sixth in a row. They have featured in 14 of the last 16 Champions League group stages.
Shakhtar vs Celtic team changes
Igor Jovićević makes no changes to his Shakhtar Donetsk side that defeated RB Leipzig last week. Goalscorers Marian Shved and Mykhaylo Mudryk start but Lassina Traore starts from the bench.
Ange Postecoglou meanwhile makes two changes to the Celtic starting XI. Kyogo Furuhashi and Saed Haksabanovic come in to replace Liel Abada and Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Shakhtar vs Celtic line-ups
Shakhtar XI: Trubin, Bondar, Taylor, Matviyneko, Konoplia, Stepanenko, Shved, Bondarenko, Sudakov, Mudryk, Zubkov
Celtic XI: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, Furuhashi, O’Riley, Jota, Haksabanovic
Jenz prepared for Shakhtar
Celtic defender, Moritz Jenz, says his team are prepared to face Shakhtar Donetsk tonight and believes this will be the type of game that suits Celtic.
“We expect Shakhtar to be very structured, to have a defensive midfield block.” he said, “I think they’ll let us have the ball and hit us on the counter.
“In Scotland we have the ball a lot, so we’ll be well prepared for that kind of match.”
Shakhtar vs Celtic
This is the fifth meeting between Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic with the previous four also coming in the Champions League group stages.
All four of those games ended in victories for the team playing at home. Will Shakhtar continue that trend tonight or can Celtic earn three points on the road?
Shakhtar playing home games in Poland
Shakhtar Donetsk are playing all of their Champions League home games in Poland this season due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Head coach Igor Jovicevic said his team will perform "for the people out there" as they take to the Stadion Wojska Polskiego on Wednesday night where a full house is expected at the 30,000-seat stadium.
"We need the spectators to share their energy and drive with us so we can fight during this game from the very first to the very last minute," the 48-year-old said,
"We are going to be playing for our fans, all those people who are out there. Indeed, all those people coming to the stadium have their own personal difficulties, but we are playing for them and with them."
Postecoglou on Madrid defeat
Ange Postecoglou was left frustrated by the way Celtic let Real Madrid take control of their Champions League fixture after the Scottish side showed plenty of promise in the first half of the game.
Vinicius Jr opened the scoring after 56 minutes and Luka Modric added a second four minutes later to put Madrid in full control of the game.
"I was a bit frustrated," said Postecoglou. "In the context of who we were playing against, I understand that you are playing against one of the best teams in the world at the moment, maybe the best. And for us to be able to match them by playing our football was encouraging.
"Looking back, the disappointing thing was, when we conceded, we conceded again quickly. There was no need to. If we had hung in the game, there’s always the chance to create again.
"At this level, 60 minutes is never going to be enough. You have to make sure you see the game out and be resilient when you need to be.”
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