Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - Barcelona 0

Shakhtar: Lastuvka; Srna (Lalatovic 83'), Barcauan, Lewandowski, Hübschman, Stoican (Chygrynskiy 91'); Matuzalem, Vukic, Duljaj; Brandao (Vorobey 46'), Aghahowa. 5-3-2.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti (Márquez 60'), Puyol (Oleguer 46'), Fernando Navarro, Sylvinho; Verdú, Xavi, Van Bronckhorst; Javito (Rodri 46'), Messi, Iniesta. 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Aghahowa. Controlled long Matusalem pass and clipped shot past Valdés.
2-0. 22. Aghahowa. Turned ball in after Lewandowski played on Brandao cross.

A depleted Barcelona side were defeated by Shakhtar Donetsk in their last group match, but still go into the next round draw as second in their mini-league. With qualification for the next stage already guaranteed after their draw with Celtic two weeks ago, Frank Rijkaard decided to leave his star players on the bench and give a run out to some of his youngsters. In came Verdú, Javito and 17 year old Leo Messi, with another B team player Rodri coming on in the second half.

Temperatures were below zero in Ukraine, and the much changed side appeared to be frozen stiff as they were caught out by the rapid local forwards early on. Brandao shot wide before Aghahowa pulled down a long pass from Matusalem and found a gap between two defenders and Víctor Valdés to open the scoring. And Brandao missed another sitter before Aghahowa got his second goal, turning the ball over the line from a yard out after Lewandowski and Fernando Navarro had played on a cross from the Brazilian forward.

Rijkaard had already given the game up as lost though, and he left Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Deco on the bench and swapped Puyol and Javito for Oleguer and Rodri at the break. And only another good performance from Valdés kept the scoreline decent, the keeper saving from Brandao, Duljaj and Matusalem either side of the break.

By now the Ukrainians were putting in some hard tackles, and Danish referee Claus Bo Larson turned down one penalty appeal for a foul on Xavi before awarding another right at the end. But even so Barça couldn't score, keeper Lastuvka diving to his right to save Iniesta's spot kick. The result takes Shakhtar above Celtic in their group, qualifying them for the UEFA cup. Barça make the long trip home having achieved the only thing they wanted, getting back without any more injured players (a knock to Belletti excepted). A night to be forgotten for the Catalans.