Sub-editor: Will Kirkup
Embed from Getty ImagesFermin Lopez starred on his Champions League debut as injury-hit Barcelona made it three wins from three in Group H after holding off Shakhtar Donetsk.
Lopez contributed a goal and caused havoc for the Shakhtar defence, running into space from deep, and could easily have had a hat-trick in the first half alone.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Catalans, who conceded in the second half to give their fans a nervy finish and their worries intensified after Joao Felix hobbled in the 75th minute before this weekend’s Clasico.
Ferran Torres scored the opener in the 28th minute, smashing in on the half-volley after Lopez’s effort came back off the post. Lopez had initially been adjudged offside, but a VAR check showed he had timed his run perfectly.
Torres then turned provider for Lopez in the 36th minute, the midfielder making another positive run and finishing emphatically in off the post.
But just past the hour mark, and against the run of play, Shakhtar capitalised on some Barcelona complacency as Joao Felix was caught on the ball, allowing the visitors to counter with Georgiy Sudakov running off Oriol Romeu with ease before slotting passed Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
The game opened up after the Shakhtar goal with two chances falling to veteran captain Taras Stepanenko.
Ultimately Barcelona were able to hold on to remain top of their group, and Shakhtar remain in third.
