SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/SHAKHTAR Shakhtar prepare for first encounter with Real Madrid in Champions League

Record ID: 141110

  • Title: SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/SHAKHTAR Shakhtar prepare for first encounter with Real Madrid in Champions League
  • Date: 14th September 2015
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 13, 2015) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF SHAKHTAR DONETSK PLAYERS ON PITCH AT SANTIAGO BERNABEU STADIUM CLOSE UP OF SHAKHTAR DONETSK PLAYERS INCLUDING GOALKEEPER ANDRIY PYATOV AND STRIKER EDUARDO JOGGING IN LARGE GROUP AROUND PITCH CLOSE UP OF SHAKHTAR DONETSK COACH MIRCEA LUCESCU ON PITCH PLAYERS WALKING IN LARGE GROUP ON PITCH WITH COACH MIRCEA LUCESCU OBSERVING THEM CLOSE UP SHOT OF MIDFIELDER BERNARD PAN SHOT OF PLAYERS ENGAGING IN PASSING GAME DURING TRAINING SESSION CLOSE UP OF PLAYERS PASSING BALL CLOSE UP SHOT OF MARLOS PUTTING HIS SOCCER BOOT BACK ON VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TAKING PART IN PASSING GAME CLOSE UP SHOT OF GOALKEEPER ANDRIY PYATOV SHOT OF PLAYERS ON PITCH OF SANTIAGO BERNABEU STADIUM NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SHAKHTAR DONETSK COACH MIRCEA LUCESCU AND MIDFIELD PLAYER MARLOS ARRIVING NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT TO COMMENCE WITH PLAYER AND COACH SITTING SIDE BY SIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MARLOS, SHAKHTAR DONETSK MIDFIELDER, SAYING: "We have to be prepared and concentrated for the first 15 minutes of the game. We need to know their strengths and have to be concentrated so that we can achieve what we want." SHAKHTAR DONETSK MIDFIELDER MARLOS LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian with Russian translation by assistant coach) MIRCEA LUCESCU, SHAKHTAR DONETSK COACH, SAYING: "It's an advantage for Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid to start playing in their own stadiums with so many fans. Of course they are big clubs and sometimes these clubs have a preference. They have an opportunity to do that and it's an advantage for them to be able to start at home." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian with Russian translation by assistant coach) MIRCEA LUCESCU, SHAKHTAR DONETSK COACH, SAYING: "We're going to go out on to the field of play and depending on what type of match it is, we will build our match. There are several matches where we saw good opportunities like the game against Gijon where we saw good organisation. We also watched the match against Espanyol. They're probably quite sure that they are going to win. We also saw them play a good game against Galatasaray who played at the Bernabeu tournament. They're different matches, quite different and we draw our own conclusions so we want to choose the best option when we play Real Madrid. The truth is that most of Real Madrid's players are in very good shape. They had some friendly matches that were played at a very high level. They have a new coach with a lot of experience and a strategist with his method so he knows how to build a match. Obviously Real Madrid wins with a coach like that who is of high quality." NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SHAKHTAR DONETSK COACH MIRCEA LUCESCU AND MIDFIELD PLAYER MARLOS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEFD0NMLVCX3A040ZJ8NZYRS2D
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Shakhtar Donetsk took to the pitch on Monday evening (September 14) at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium ahead of their Champions League opener against Spanish giants, Real Madrid.
    The Ukrainian outfit, managed by Mircea Lucescu, go into their first ever European encounter with Los Blancos on the back of a stunning 5-0 win against Metalist in the Ukrainian Premier League.
    The Donetsk side finished runner-up in the Ukrainian Premier League last season and qualified for this year's Champion's League group stages after beating Austria's Rapid Vienna.
    Despite having only lost one game in their last thirteen encounters, Lucescu's squad has weakened over the summer months following the departure of Douglas Costa and Luiz Adriano.
    Real Madrid's biggest threats will come in the form of former Arsenal striker, Eduardo, and Alex Texeira who has scored nine goals in seven games.
    Their best performance in Europe's biggest club championship came in the 2010/2011 campaign when they reached the quarter finals, however they face a difficult battle to make it through the group stages with Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain favourites to take the top two spots in Group A.
    Shakhtar midfielder appeared sure of what his team should do in order to keep Real Madrid at bay during the match.
    "We have to be prepared and concentrated for the first 15 minutes of the game. We need to know their strength and have to be concentrated so that we can achieve what we want," explained Marlos.
    Speaking to journalists ahead of the team's training session the Shakhtar Donetsk coach, Mircea Lucescu, said he felt Real Madrid held the upper hand ahead of their game at the Santiago Bernabeu.
    "It's an advantage for Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid to start playing in their own stadiums with so many fans. Of course they are big clubs and sometimes these clubs have a preference. They have the opportunity to do that and it's an advantage for them to be able to start at home," he said.
    If Shakhtar's record on Spanish soil is anything to go by, the squad have an uphill battle in Tuesday's clash - the club has only ever won two games in Spain.
    The team's manager has done plenty of preparatory work ahead of the Champions League opener at the Santiago Bernabeu.
    "We're going to go out on to the field of play and depending on what type of match it is, we will build our match. There are several matches where we saw good opportunities like the game against Gijon where we saw good organisation. We also watched the match against Espanyol. They're probably quite sure that they are going to win. We also saw them play a good game against Galatasaray who played at the Bernabeu tournament. They're different matches, quite different and we draw our own conclusions so we want to choose the best option when we play Real Madrid. The truth is that most of Real Madrid's players are in very good shape. They had some friendly matches that were played at a very high level. They have a new coach with a lot of experience and a strategist with his method so he knows how to build a match. Obviously Real Madrid wins with a coach like that who is of high quality," explained the Shakhtar coach, Mircea Lucescu.
    Real Madrid will take on Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening (September 15) at 1845 GMT.
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