UCL: Dortmund Ease Past Shakhtar 3-1 but Face Playoff to Reach Round of 16

Borussia Dortmund secured a 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk but will face a playoff to reach the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Get the latest UCL updates, match highlights, and results.

Borussia Dortmund secured a 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in their final UEFA Champions League league phase match at Signal Iduna Park. However, despite fulfilling their end of the bargain, Dortmund will have to navigate a playoff to reach the Round of 16, as other results did not go in their favor.

As anticipated, Dortmund dominated the early stages of the match and took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark. A careless backpass from the Shakhtar midfield allowed Nico Schlotterbeck to loft the ball into the area, where Karim Adeyemi fired towards the top corner. However, it was Serhou Guirassy who ultimately scored, bundling the ball across the line to ignite the Yellow Wall and make it six goalscoring UCL games out of eight this term for Dortmund.

Guirassy double in Dortmund ⚫🟡#UCL pic.twitter.com/0EmZ0c9hZq

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 29, 2025

Nico Schlotterbeck proved instrumental at both ends of the pitch, as his last-ditch block prevented Heorhiy Sudakov from scoring a certain equalizer for Shakhtar on a rare breakaway. Normal service soon resumed, with Dortmund regaining control of the match.

Dortmund's dominance paid off again, as another turnover allowed Maximilian Beier to launch a long ball forward. Julian Brandt took down the ball and deftly nudged it to the onrushing Serhou Guirassy, who fired into the far corner to double his and Dortmund's tally at a crucial time in the match.

With other results not going in their favor, Dortmund's only apparent option to avoid a playoff was to score as many goals as possible. Guirassy nearly completed his hat-trick early in the second half, but a point-blank save from Dmytro Riznyk denied him. It seemed only a matter of time before Dortmund scored again, but Shakhtar suddenly found their way back into the game.

The league phase is complete ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/8Ix7MvcqI4

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 29, 2025

A calamitous touch from Gregor Kobel allowed Marlon Gomes to slide in and roll the ball into the net, giving Shakhtar a glimmer of hope. Dortmund fans might have had flashbacks to their weekend stalemate against Werder Bremen, but the hosts kept pushing forward. Another free kick drew an impressive save from Riznyk, this time from Ramy Bensebaini's header, suggesting that the landslide Dortmund desired wasn't forthcoming.

As the match wore on, Shakhtar's energy waned, and Dortmund sensed an opportunity to finish the job. With just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Gio Reyna's delicious backheel put Bensebaini through, and the Algerian chipped the ball past Riznyk to seal the win. Despite the 3-1 victory, Dortmund finished in 10th place and will now face Sporting CP or Club Brugge in a two-legged playoff to reach the Round of 16.