The Ukrainian football champions Shakhtar Donetsk have to worry about progressing in the Europa League and therefore also about further guest appearances in Hamburg this season. In the first leg of the playoff round it was only enough for a 2-2 (0-0) draw against Olympique Marseille at the Volksparkstadion.
Despite a late equalizer for Donetsk, the top French club has a better starting position for the second game next Thursday in their own stadium.
Former Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Marseille the lead in the 64th minute and also set up his team’s second goal through Iliman Ndiaye in the 90th minute. The goals for Shakhtar were scored by Mikola Matwijenko in the 68th minute and the Brazilian Eguinaldo in stoppage time (90+3).
Because of the Russian war of aggression in their homeland, the Ukrainians are playing their international home games in Hamburg this season. In the first half of the season, FC Porto, FC Barcelona and Royal Antwerp were guests at the Volksparkstadion in the Champions League preliminary round. As third in the group, Schachtar can now continue playing in the Europa League after the winter break.