Shakhtar beat Leipzig beyond Stepanenko's 'wildest dreams'

Shakhtar Donetsk captain Taras Stepanenko has said it was beyond his 'wildest dreams' to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 in their Champions League opener at the Red Bull Arena.

Igor Jovicevic's side became the first Ukrainian side to take part in the Champions League since Russia invaded the country, and they marked the occasion with an unlikely win on the road.< /p>

Despite enjoying only 32% of possession and only attempting four shots on target, Shakhtar scored with each of them thanks to a brace from Marian Shved and other goals from Mykhaylo Mudryk and Lassina Traoré.

Jovicevic's visitors finished with an expected goals total of just 1.2, compared to 1.4 for Leipzig, who thought they were back in the game thanks to Mohammed Simakan's equalizer - only to crumble shortly after. time after.

Leipzig's loss potentially casts doubt over coach Domenico Tedesco's future, with the Bundesliga side having won only one of five league games, but it was a memorable victory for the Shakhtar.

"I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams such a game with four goals for us. But we played well and I think we deserved this result tonight," Stepanenko told reporters.< /p>

"I've been with the club for more than a decade. It's a new team, but a lot of these young players come from the Shakhtar academy, so they have the spirit of Shakhtar and that really helps us a lot.

"We are a tight-knit group and have a lot of spirit. When I saw the draw I knew straight away it would be a tough group, but I also knew we had a good team. and that we should be able to get results.

"We want to improve, but with young players you sometimes lack consistency."

Shakhtar already have more points (three) and goals (four) than they scored in last season's group stage (two points, two goals).

Their next task will see them face Celtic, who lost 3-0 to reigning European champions Real Madrid in the other Group F fixture, but for now Jovicevic has expressed his delight after having seen his positivity bear dividends.

"When the counter-attack for the third goal came and the ball was at Mudryk's feet, I already raised my arms in celebration because I know from practice that he scores when he is one-on-one with the goalkeeper," Jovicevic said.

"I tried to give that positive energy and it's about being positive."

Shved became the 10th different Ukrainian player to score on his Champions League debut and only the second to do so while playing for Shakhtar - after Stepanenko in November 2010.

Jovicevic praised Shved, who also became the first Ukrainian to score a brace in the competition since Junior Moraes for Shakhtar in Lyon in October 2018.

"I have known Marian Shved since my time at Lviv, and when Sevilla took him, I wanted him back," Jovicevic said.

"Now I'm glad he's back on my team. He's a hard worker, quick and powerful, and I know what he's capable of."