Sporting CP Beat Shakhtar to Go Top Five in Champions League

Doumbia fires Sporting CP to crucial 1-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk 

Sporting CP beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in Krakow to secure a second straight away Champions League win, moving to nine points in the League Phase.

Sporting CP's superb Champions League campaign rolls on with Shakhtar victory...

Sporting CP moved into the top five of the UEFA Champions League League Phase, at least for now, as they edged Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 at the Ukrainian side's adopted European home at the Stadion Miejski in Krakow to record back-to-back away wins in the competition for the first time since 2008.

There were half-chances at both ends in the early stages, as Pedro Henrique tested Rui Silva with a long-range drive before Maxi Araujo's close-range volley was blocked inside the six-yard box by Vinicius Tobias.

What began as an end-to-end encounter soon became a cagey affair between two in-form sides, with Silas Andersen's strike over the bar from a corner after 32 minutes the next notable attempt for either team.

The Ukrainian champions carved out the biggest opening of the half as the interval approached. Yegor Nazaryna delivered perfectly from the right to pick out Kaua Elias unmarked at the far post, but the Brazilian without a goal in all competitions since August blazed his effort high into the stands.

It was a moment that summed up the first 45 minutes flashes of promise, but ultimately lacking a cutting edge.

The tempo lifted significantly after the restart, with Issa Doumbia dragging an outside-of-the-boot effort across the face of goal before Kaua Elias was denied an opener by a superb last-ditch block from Eduardo Felicissimo.

Doumbia would not be denied for long, breaking the deadlock just before the hour mark after a costly mistake from the Shakhtar defence.

Andersen's clipped pass was inadvertently turned into his path by Henrique, and the Ivorian reacted instinctively to fire home his second Champions League goal of the season.

Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk prevented Sporting from doubling their lead in quick succession, reacting well to push away Eduardo Quaresma's glancing header, before Suarez and Elias both fired over from promising positions at either end.

Eventually, the nominal hosts began to turn the tide and pile pressure on the Sporting goal, but Silva was equal to efforts from range from both Marlon Gomes and Alisson.

Silva was then left helpless when Alisson's next effort flew past him, only for the post to come to his rescue.

Despite all their late pressure, Shakhtar should have salvaged a point in stoppage time, yet Newerton's bullet header was straight at a grateful Silva.

Sporting CP make it three wins out of four 📈 #UCL https://t.co/DiH01xZSVz

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 3, 2026

It proved too little, too late for Shakhtar, who remain on four points from four Champions League games heading into their next clash against Fenerbahce in Krakow after the international break.

Sporting, meanwhile, are in a far healthier position on nine points and will look to build on their momentum when they face a struggling Manchester United side next in the competition.

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