UEFA Champions League 2020/21: Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk – tactical analysis

“We have had ten important casualties. Ten!” Shakhtar Donetsk coach, Luis Castro didn’t hold back in his interview with MARCA, pointing the incredible level of adaptation the COVID-19 crisis had brought upon his club.

Though a few key players managed to lace up their boots, the side featured eight players who are 23 or younger, and that’s just the starting XI. All three subs ranged from 18 to 20 years old.

Despite the extraordinary number of absences and the strength of Real Madrid, even despite the absences of Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard and Martin Ødegaard, Shakhtar Donetsk managed one of the greatest upsets in club history.

This tactical analysis breaks down the approach Castro’s side took while claiming the three important points. We’ll look at each side’s defensive structures, how Shakhtar’s build-up picked apart the Madrid press and finish with an analysis of Zinedine Zidane’s second half adjustments.

Lineups

Zidane started the game with a heavily rotated side, leaving just Thibaut Courtois, Raphaël Varane, Marcelo and Luka Modrić in the starting lineup from the weekend upset against Cádiz. Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy stepped into the starting lineup, as did Casemiro and Federico Valverde in midfield. The top line of the 4-3-3 consisted of Rodrygo Goes on the left, Marco Asensio on the right and embattled Luka Jović centrally.

On the other touchline, the Portuguese Castro went with a 4-1-4-1, calling upon the 19-year-old Ukrainian international, Anatoliy Trubin, to replace Andriy Pyatov in goal. The backline consisted of Dodô, Valeriy Bondar, Davit Khocholava and Viktor Korniyenko. In midfield, the Brazilian youth international, Maycon, was the lone pivot. Fellow Brazilian youth international Marcos Antônio and the highly-experienced Marlos played in front of Maycon. That left the young Israeli sensation, Manor Solomon, on the left, Brazil U20’s Tetê and the long-time Shakhtar striker, Dentinho, as the lone striker.