Young Ukrainians instead of experienced Brazilians, home games in Warsaw instead of Donetsk and the departure of super talent Mykhaylo Mudryk: The footballers of Shakhtar Donetsk are playing under special circumstances for a season. Today it’s up to Donetsk (9 p.m.) in the Europa League at Stade Rennes to reach the round of 16. The Ukrainians won the first leg of the play-offs 2-1.
A game of great sporting importance for Shakhtar Donetsk – and only a few hours before the Russian attack on Ukraine marks the first anniversary. The fact that Donetsk is even in the knockout phase of the Europa League and, after the success in the first leg, does not have a bad starting position in terms of sport, is already impressive. Not only since the Russian attack in February 2022 has the club been significantly influenced by the war and plays – at least in top European football – under incomparable conditions.
Home games in Kharkiv, Kiev, Lviv or even Warsaw
Shakhtar Donetsk has not played a home game in its own Donbass Arena since 2014. The region in the east of the country has been fiercely contested for nine years. The very modern Donbass Arena, which was built for EURO 2012, was also badly damaged by the fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian armed forces. In the course of the war that had broken out in the East, the team initially moved to Kiev.
The Donbass Arena – the actual home ground of Shakhtar Donetsk in January
Shakhtar then played his home games in the Ukrainian capital as well as in Kharkiv and Lemberg. The international home games in the current season, such as the 1-1 victory against Real Madrid last October in the Champions League, are even taking place outside of the Ukraine, in Warsaw. The team is currently also living in a hotel in the Polish capital. Shakhtar commutes every time for games in the Ukrainian league, the league home games usually take place in Lviv.
Cadre upheaval as a result of the war – young Ukrainians instead of Brazilians
Not only the stadium in Shakhtar but also the squad is different because of the war. For a long time, Donetsk was known for its strong Brazilian axis. National players like Willian, Fernandinho, Fred and ex-Bayern player Douglas Costa all played for the Ukrainian club – with the first two Donetsk won the UEFA Cup in 2009. Last week against Rennes, striker Lassina Traoré (Burkina Faso) was the only non-Ukrainian player to replace Shakhtar.
Almost all foreign players left the club in spring 2022. FIFA had decided that foreign professionals from the leagues of Russia and Ukraine could terminate their contracts to join another club on a free transfer. Shakhtar Donetsk then recalled loaned players and expanded the squad with youth players. Instead of seasoned Brazilian national players, young Ukrainian talents are now shaping the team.
Mudryk and a remarkable Champions League group stage
But even these talents are not to be kept for Shakhtar if they play well in international competition. The 22-year-old striker Mykhaylo Mudryk was only signed by Chelsea in January for a fee of 100 million euros (70 million fixed, 30 million bonus payments). A lot of money, but Donetsk probably needs it to fill up the club treasury. Around a quarter of the sum is also to be used to help Ukrainian soldiers and families of fallen soldiers.
22-year-old striker Mykhaylo Mudryk was sold to Chelsea in January for €100m
The fact that Mudryk even brought in such a transfer fee was primarily due to his performances in the Champions League group stage this season. With three goals and two assists in six games, the striker attracted interest from several top European clubs. In general, Shakhtar played a remarkable group phase, winning 4-1 at RB Leipzig, among other things. Only on the last day of the group stage did the Ukrainians miss the round of 16. With a total of six points, however, they easily finished third in the group and left Celtic Glasgow well behind.
Thanks to these remarkable performances, Shakhtar Donetsk now has a chance of reaching the round of 16 in the Europa League. As the last remaining Ukrainian representative in this competition, an entire country is probably hoping for Shakhtar to succeed – a few hours before this sad anniversary.