The Donetsk "Shakhtar" started their European Champions League campaign for the 18th time in history. The miners qualified directly to the group stage as champions of Ukraine.

In the first round, the orange-and-black team faced the second-placed team from last year's Portuguese league — "Porto". The nominal home game for "Shakhtar" was played in Hamburg at the "Volksparkstadion".

The teams quickly exchanged goals. First, Porto scored — Ryzhik parried Francky's shot, but Galeno arrived to score the rebound. Shakhtar responded with a counterattack, which Zubkov initiated and passed to Konoplya, who delivered an accurate cross for Kelsey, who put the ball in the net.

Portuguese players dominated the field thereafter. On the 15th minute, Galeno completed his brace by intercepting Sekan's pass to Lemkin at the entrance of Shakhtar's penalty area. Later, the same Galeno broke through on the left flank and delivered a precise cross for Taremi, who increased Porto's lead. Until halftime, Ryzhik had several saves.

Shakhtar started the second half well with Nazarina taking a shot from an acute angle. Later, Ryzhik saved shots by Eustaquio and Francky. On the 65th minute, Sekan found Zubkov in the penalty area but Costa pulled off a save from his close-range effort.

Towards the end of the match, Porto played with a lead while Shakhtar managed to score once more through Zubkov's shot. Thus, Shakhtar started their Champions League campaign with a loss — 1:3.

In the lineup for "Shakhtar", players who were called up for the national team in September participated: Konoplya (assisted goal, yellow card, substituted on the 76th minute), Stepanenko (yellow card, substituted on the 65th minute), Zubkov, Sudakov, Nazarina.

Champions League. Group Stage. Group N

1st round

"Shakhtar" (Ukraine) — "Porto" (Portugal) — 1:3 (1:3)

Goals: Kelsey (13) — Galeno (8, 15), Taremi (29).

"Shakhtar": Ryzhik, Konoplya (Gocholishvili, 76), Lemkin (Azarov, 65), Rakitskyi, Myroshyi, Stepanenko (c) (Bondarenko, 65), Zubkov, Sudakov, Nazarina, Sekan (Eginaldo, 81), Kelsey (Kashchuk, 65).

Substitutes: Rudik, Puzankov, Castilo, Krisykyv, Vyunyk, Ocheretko, Kozik.

Coach: Patrick van Leeuwen.

"Porto": Costa, Mario (Sanchez, 73), Pepe (c), Carmo, Zaidu (Vendell, 46), Francky (Borges, 82), Valera, Eustaquio, Jaime (Gonzalez, 73), Taremi, Galeno (F. Conceicao, 90+1).

Substitutes: Ramus, Cardozo, Grujic, Navarro, Baro, Martinez.

Referee: Davide Massa (Italy).

Yellow cards: Sekan (6), Stepanenko (31), Konoplya (76) — Carmo (4), Mario (54).

September 19. Hamburg. "Volksparkstadion".

"Barcelona" (Spain) — "Antwerp" (Belgium) — 5:0 (3:0)

2nd round

October 4, 2023

"Antwerp" — "Shakhtar" (19.45)

"Porto" — "Barcelona" (22.00)