A Real Shambles

13-time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid were shell-shocked by Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 at home in a shocking upset; as the visitors overcame the depletion of 10 players through injury & COVID-19 to pull off one of the most memorable results in the competition's history.

Shakhtar Donetsk are a confident side capable of brilliant attacking football; and time & again; they cut through the Real defence with ease in a shocking first-half display for Zinedine Zidane's men. Viktor Korniienko displayed some dazzling skill to set up Tete for the opener; before Raphael Varane; at fault for last season's demise against Manchester City; prodded a calamitous own-goal to see them go two down. With left-back Marcelo pulled out of position yet again; it was left to Israeli forward Manor Solomon to put the visitors three up within the first half.

Real did come back in the second half; and a magnificent top-corner effort from Luka Modric was followed by a goal from substitute Vinicius Junior; after some sloppy dithering from the Shakhtar side. However; the visitors could have even scored more; and were only foiled by some great goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois and their own wasteful finishing that could have put the game to bed.

For Madrid; this was their second straight home defeat after the 0-1 capitulation against promoted Cadiz over the weekend; and with the El Clasico coming soon in 3 days time' at the Camp Nou Stadium; Zidane's men need to make sure they get their socks back up.