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Barcelona's hopes of securing an early berth in the Champions League knockout stage were dashed following their 1-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. This loss not only tarnished Barcelona's previously unblemished record in this season's Champions League but also propelled Shakhtar into contention for advancement from Group H.
The solitary goal came from Danylo Sikan, who scored with a well-timed header in the 40th minute during the game hosted by Shakhtar in Germany, necessitated by the ongoing conflict. Notably, this victory marked Shakhtar's first triumph as hosts in the group stage since their relocation from Ukraine due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The match drew an impressive crowd of almost 50,000 at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.
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Despite the setback, Barcelona remains tied with Porto at nine points, as Porto secured a 2-0 victory over winless Antwerp at home on the same matchday. Meanwhile, Shakhtar now stands at six points, currently positioned in third place in the group.
In a parallel fixture, Erling Haaland further cemented his dominance in the tournament, notching his 39th goal in 34 appearances as Manchester City clinched their place in the knockout stage with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Young Boys. Haaland's standout performance included two goals, one of which was a remarkable long-range strike in the second half, bringing him within striking distance of Sergio Aguero's record of 41 goals for Manchester City in the Champions League.
Haaland initiated the scoring at the Etihad Stadium with a well-converted penalty in the 23rd minute, before Phil Foden doubled the lead in stoppage time of the first half. Haaland then showcased his exceptional skill set by firing into the top corner from the edge of the area, shortly after the break. However, his pursuit of a hat-trick was cut short as he was substituted in the 61st minute.
Manchester City's dominance was further accentuated when Young Boys' Sandro Lauper received a red card for a high-footed challenge on City substitute Nathan Ake in the 53rd minute. Haaland's penalty was a result of Lauper bringing down Matheus Nunes in the area earlier in the game.
Foden's goal, on the other hand, was a display of his adept footwork, as he received a pass from Jack Grealish and skillfully bypassed Ulisses Garcia before slotting the ball into the far corner past goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi. This victory marked Manchester City's 23rd consecutive home win across all competitions.
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