Group H leaders Barcelona moved a step closer to reaching the Champions League knockout stages after a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Barca made it three wins from as many matches through goals from Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez before they held on in the second half after Heorhiy Sudakov’s 62nd-minute strike.
Xavi’s men produced moments of quality with a rotated side ahead of Saturday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid at Nou Camp in LaLiga.
FULL TIME!!!!!!!!! |
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Barca nearly had a dream start after seven minutes. Oriol Romeu’s high press forced the turnover in Shakhtar’s box which allowed Lopez to jink inside and shoot, but the midfielder’s effort was kept out by Dmytro Riznyk.
Barca’s persistence paid off when they opened the scoring in the 28th minute through Torres.
Lopez picked up another dangerous position inside the box and his effort cannoned off the post into the path of Torres who smashed home.
VAR initially deemed the goal offside but the ruling was overturned after Lopez held his run long enough.
And the potent Lopez doubled Barca’s lead in the 36th minute in spectacular fashion.
The La Masia youth product marauded into the open space from midfield, beat his man with a feint before producing a rocket on his right foot which saw the ball smash off the post into the back of the net.
The goal, which was Lopez’s second of the season, was completely deserved after the 20-year-old dazzled in the first half under the lights at Nou Camp.
The LaLiga champions started where they left off in the second half and came close through Joao Felix, who was denied by Riznyk from a tight angle.
The visitors persisted in their plan of playing out from the back which encouraged blue and red shirts to swarm them in possession as they struggled to deal with the relentless Barca press.
But Shakhtar stunned Xavi’s men when they struck against the run of play to make it 2-1.
Felix lost possession and Shakhtar advanced into the Barca half through Irakli Azarovi who picked out the rapid Sudakov and he ghosted past Romeu and held his nerve with a blasted effort past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Moments after Lopez hit the post in the 68th minute, his headed effort was ruled offside as Barca tried for a third.
