Real Madrid suffered a remarkable opening Champions League defeat as Shakhtar Donetsk, missing 10 first-team players due to coronavirus, held on for a 3-2 away win.
Wednesday’s Group B clash seemed to be set up for a straightforward Madrid win, with Shakhtar clear underdogs even before losing half their squad to COVID-19 in a situation coach Luis Castro described as “a nightmare” but strikes from Mateus Tete and Manor Solomon sandwiched a Raphael Varane own goal saw Shakhtar secured a three-goal half-time lead.
Efforts from Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior set up a grandstand finish, but Federico Valverde’s apparent equaliser in stoppage time was disallowed for offside as Shakhtar survived for a sensational victory.
Madrid also lost at home to Cadiz last Saturday and visit bitter rivals Barcelona in the Clasico this weekend yet at least showed some fight after the break.
