Barcelona 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk – Champions League LIVE: Fermín Lopez’s brilliant strike doubles hosts lead after Ferran Torres’ opener as Xavi’s side look to make it three wins from three in Group H

Out they come, with neither team having made tweaks to their starting XI.

Let’s get back underway in Barcelona.

Shakhtar haven’t been able to give Barcelona any sort of scare so far; the home side might think they deserve even more than a two-nil cushion at the break.

But perhaps Pusic can turn it all around with his first rousing half-time talk?

Kryskiv streaks through the centre of the Barcelona half, but opts not to challenge Ter Stegen, instead passing off to Bondarenko was is efficiently challenged by Cancelo.

As the whistle blows for half-time, Shakhtar couldn’t be heading into the dressing room with less confidence, I’d think.

Torres picks up a sloppy yellow card for a sliding challenge on Konoplia, but they’re deep in Shakhtar’s half, and the visitors continue to look mired in it.

When they do venture out, Barcelona look well-drilled and thoughtful, and quickly unpick the growing attack without fuss on the edge of their box.

Barcelona are hungry now, and capitalise on some uneasiness on the edge of the Shakhtar box. Stepanenko is drawn into a heroic block to stop the home side from making it three-nil, but hands Barca a corner.

The visitors ensure Barca can do little with it, but the Blaugrana keep hold of posession, and don’t look like they’ll be easing up on the threat anytime soon.

Goal number two, and a deserved strike for Lopez from very little indeed!

The player was robbed with his wobbly hit of the post, but he’s rewarded now, as he collects a clever ball from Torres and blasts from the edge of the box after outdancing several Shakhtar shirts.

No chance for Riznyk.

Shakhtar attempt to spark a flood forward, but Bondarenko is chopped down by Gundogan. A freekick pushes them forward, but the visitors still look a little toothless, with Barcelona quickly overturning their guests.

Yamal, who has looked zippy so far, attempts to send a cross over to his opposite number on the left flank, but the ball skitters out of play.

A fair scoreline, in this blogger’s eyes – Barcelona have been on top for large swathes of the game, and although Shakhtar had fought off attacks well up to that point, a goal felt like a matter of time.

The initial call was offside, but VAR takes its time… and the goal is given!

The strike was a rocket, with Torres stretching to connect with the ball cleanly.

A sliding Konopolia is accidently caught in the face by Alonso, but there’s not enough in it to charge the former Chelsea man.

But Shakhtar look to pull the rug from under Barcelona’s momentum, Sudakov darting forward towards goal and catching defenders unaware. Handing off to Bondarenko just ahead of the box saps the challenge, and quickly Barcelona are back in control.

Flooding forward, Lopez first strikes the post, before Torres picks up the rebound and leathers it past the Ukrainian goalkeeper to stretch the netting.

But it’s ruled out! Or is it…

Alonso picks up the ball deep in Barca’s half, and just before he loses it, he wings it to Cancelo and the home side set off at pace.

Yamal on the right looks for a route into the box, but has defenders stuck to him like glue, and can only fire the ball into the boot of a player in white – or so it looked like.

Shakhtar have the goal kick in the end.

Kryskiv goes to ground, and looks upset. There wasn’t any interference with him – which could make it all the more serious news for Shakhtar.

The rest of the pitch grabs a stolen water break, as the forward limps to the sideline. He’s back on a few moments later – hopefully there’s no cause for concern.

Gundogan sweeps in a corner for Barcelona, but Shakhtar players are clogging the box and the ball leaps out.

Felix wins a good-looking freekick, though, when he’s rumbled by Konoplia’s arm to the face.

The former Chelsea loanee is 30 yards out, to the left of goal, but rather than sending it into the box, he cuts sideways to Lopez. But his team-mate can’t cleanly find a waiting Araujo, and Shakhtar lock up to keep the home side out.

An opening chance for Shakhtar! Not the cleanest, but the home side goofed and opened the door with Cancelo heading the ball to the feet of Sikan as Shakhtar sniff around the box.

He has his strike on the edge of the box blocked, and Barcelona look to save their blushes with action at the other end. Picking up the ball midway through the Shakhtar half, Felix runs at Riznyk one-on-one but leaves it too late to shoot. The goalkeeper makes a quick-thinking stop.

Shakhtar are looking firm enough as they keep hold of possession, but it’s likely a waiting game for the home side.

Snatching the ball back, Gundogan sets off down the left, but can’t catch a looping pass which flies out of play.

A little push from Romeo and Bondarenko goes down like he’s been hit with a hammer. To no avail, however, as Cancelo gets the throw inside the Shakhtar half.

Riznyk is forced into the first save of the night and Lopez will be kicking himself he wasn’t able to bury the ball in the back of the net at close range.

But now Shakhtar have a chance to be off and running, Konoplia sneaking in from the right before Cancelo fells him, swiping the ball back.

Barcelona win their first corner, which swings in for Romeu to leap at, but his connection loops over the bar, despite Riznyk jumping at full stretch.

The home side keep the pressure up as Shakhtar hold onto possession, with Riznyk opting for a long ball to put the breaks on a burgeoning Barcelona threat.

Barcelona snuff out Shakhtar’s attempt to boot the ball upfield, and Lopez is allowed a chance to dart into the box.

His casual attempt is kept under control by Riznyk with ease, setting up the visitors’ first trip towards Ter Stegen.

Barcelona don’t need to burst out of the starting gates tonight, and are content to hold on to possession, gently paddling the ball around as they look for their first foray into the Shakhtar half.

Pusics’ players are doing a good job at clogging up the midfield, before Lopez attempts to sneak down the right.

The players stream out of the tunnel at a… not overflowing Olímpic Lluís Companys Stadium. The Champions League anthem gets a thorough whistle, however, before both teams shake hands.

Let’s get underway in Spain!

Barcelona should prove quite the opposition to debut against for Marino Pusic, who was appointed to head up the Ukrainian side just yesterday by sporting director Darijo Srna. That’s right – October 24.

Srna sacked previous manager Patrick van Leeuwen after a difficult start to the season, and just 10 games in charge. The Dutch manager was appointed at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, following the departure of Igor Jovićević.

Could this be something of a free hit for the side under the circumstances?

There’s never a dull day at Barcelona where president Joan Laporta can be hailed for fixing the finances, and urged to resign over the bribery scandal, all in the same day.

What kind of day will Sunday be? Well that depends on how Barcelona deal with Athletic Bilbao. If they win and go into next Saturday’s Clasico on good form then the mood will be good, until the next allegation drops of course.

READ MORE BELOW.

Before today’s kick-off, Shakhtar captain Taras Stepanenko took time out to visit an injured Ukrainian soldier currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Barcelona after losing part of his skull whilst serving in August 2022.

The Ukrainian club – once based in the Donbas region – has paid for Vitaly Shumei’s extensive neurorehabilition at the Guttmann Brain Health Institute. The 35-year-old has been in Catalonia for five months, and his condition is thought to be improving.

‘Strong emotions and all,’ Stepanenko told Reuters after the visit. ‘I really wanted to cry, because when you see him, he is a really strong guy who protect(ed) our country.’

On the bench tonight? 17-year-old Marc Guiu.

Shakhtar will desperately hope he stays there after his last substitution for Xavi’s side. Guiu scored his first-ever LaLiga goal just 33 seconds after being brought on against Athletic Club for his senior debut.

Lamine Yamal, on his second Champions League start, feels like a veteran in comparison.

The home side are forced into making four changes from the side that bested Porto with 10 men on their last European matchday. Gavi will serve his ban after picking up two yellows in Portugal, and Balde, Kounde, and Lewandowski are traded for Martinez, Alonso, and Torres – perhaps with one eye on the weekend’s Big One.

Marino Pusix makes just two changes to the European Shakhtar side, bringing in Bondarenko and Bondar over Nazaryna and Rakitskiy.

Xavi’s men currently sit atop Group H, after wins against FC Porto and a barnstormer against Royal Antwerp, but a win against third-placed Shakhtar could shore up their hold as they look to reach the knock-out stages for the first time since 2020.

Strong domestic form should sharpen the Blaugrana ahead of tonight’s kick-off – Barca are still unbeaten in LaLiga ahead of the weekend’s El Clasico.

Here’s Group H as things stand:

1. Barcelona – 6

2. Porto – 3

3. Shakhtar – 3

4. Royal Antwerp – 0

Barcelona have revealed their ambitious plans for renovations to the Nou Camp in a new computer-generated video on social media.

However, despite its status in the game as one of the sport’s biggest and best venues, the facilities had been in urgent need of attention, after years of decay.

READ MORE BELOW:

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog for the first of tonight’s Champions League ties – which sees Shakhtar Donetsk travel to Catalonia to face Barcelona.

Kick-off comes at 5.45pm – but before that, stick around for all the build-up and more.

First up, team news…