Pro Sports

Shakhtar team depleted by coronavirus stuns Real Madrid 3-2

Posted October 21, 2020 7:00 am

By TALES AZZONI

Shakhtar's Manor Solomon celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

MADRID (AP) - A Shakhtar Donetsk team depleted by coronavirus cases handed Real Madrid a 3-2 home loss in Group B of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Playing with only a few regular starters, Shakhtar took advantage of counterattacks to open up a 3-0 first-half lead, and then held on after Madrid pulled closer with two goals shortly after the break in an empty Alfredo Di StÃ©fano Stadium.

Madrid thought it had equalized in injury time through Federico Valverde, but the goal was disallowed for offside after video review.

The Ukrainian side opened the scoring through TetÃª in the 29th minute and added to the lead with an own-goal by Madrid defender Raphael Varane in the 33rd. Manor Solomon then added the third in the 42nd.

Madrid fought back with a long-range shot by Luka Modric in the 54th and a goal by VinÃcius JÃºnior in the 59th, seconds after he came on as a substitute.

Inter Milan hosted Borussia MÃ¶nchengladbach in the other Group B match later Wednesday.

Shakhtar arrived in Spain without several key players who were not fully fit after going into isolation because of positive COVID-19 tests. Seven regular starters and a couple of first-choice substitutes were absent, and coach Luis Castro had to call up seven players from the 'œB'ť team.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was without some players because of injury, including captain Sergio Ramos and right back Dani Carvajal, and he made several changes to the starting lineup ahead of the Spanish league 'œclÃ¡sico'ť against Barcelona on Saturday. Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema were among those who started on the bench.

'œWe didn't get off to a good start. I think we lacked confidence,'ť Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said. 'œWe improved in the second half but it wasn't enough. We have to move on, the next match is coming up soon and we can't lose time lamenting.'ť

It was the second consecutive home loss for Madrid, which on Saturday was beaten 1-0 by promoted CÃ¡diz in the Spanish league.

The team was ineffective from the start on Wednesday, unable to get near the Shakhtar goal. The visitors, meanwhile, threatened often and squandered several other scoring chances. Marlos had a goal disallowed for offside in the 80th.

The game was played at the 6,000-capacity Alfredo Di StÃ©fano at Madrid's training center because the Santiago BernabÃ©u Stadium remains under renovation while fans are not allowed into matches because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A 13-time Champions League winner, Madrid was eliminated in the round of 16 in the last two seasons.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni

Shakhtar's Manor Solomon scores his side's third goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois dives but fails to save the Real Madrid's Raphael Varane's an own goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

Shakhtar's Tete, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

Shakhtar's Dentinho reacts after Real Madrid's Raphael Varane scored an own goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

Shakhtar's Tete celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

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