Shakhtar Donetsk 0-1 Sporting CP: result and report

The Pundit picked Sporting CP (53%): correct

Report

Sporting CP won 1-0 away at Shakhtar Donetsk, which was the result expected before kick-off. The way they won was far less convincing, though, because Shakhtar Donetsk created more and spent much more of the match on the attack.

The game turned on a single moment. Issa Doumbia scored on 59 minutes to put Sporting CP ahead. That still left Shakhtar Donetsk more than half an hour to respond, but they could not find a way back.

The chance numbers show how narrow the margin was. Shakhtar Donetsk finished with more xG, 1.70 to 1.33, and took 11 shots to Sporting CP's six. Both sides created three big chances, while Shakhtar Donetsk missed all three of theirs and also hit the woodwork.

The pressure pattern points the same direction as those chances. Shakhtar Donetsk sustained far heavier attacking pressure across the match. They also had more of the ball and more dangerous attacks. Despite that, they put only four shots on target. Sporting CP made three saves, so their goalkeeper had to work for the clean sheet, while the Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper made just one.

There is a counter-signal worth noting, though. Sporting CP were not simply hanging on. Their 1.33 xG shows they carved out enough to score, and they matched Shakhtar Donetsk's three big chances. This was a game the home side edged rather than dominated.