German champions Borussia Dortmund travelled to Ukraine to take on Shakhtar Donetsk after easing through the toughest group in the first round and picked up a good 2-2 draw.
Despite Dortmund dominating the opening 25 minutes, it was the hosts who took the lead as Darijo Srna fired in a superb free-kick.
Dortmund got level before the break through Robert Lewandowski, before Mats Hummels headed in a corner in the last five minutes to cancel out Douglas Costa's individual effort.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello and thanks for joining me tonight for 'the other' Champions League clash as Shakhtar Donetsk host Dortmund in Ukraine.
So much talk has been on United vs. Real tonight but this one has all the makings of a real classic. Two exciting, attacking sides with points to prove in top European competition.
First thing's first, the team news. It'll be right with you.
SHAKHTAR XI: Pyatov; Rat, Chygrynskiy, Rakitskiy, Hubschman; Fernandinho, Alex Teixeira, Srna; Luiz Adriano, Mkhitaryan, Taison
DORTMUND XI: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer; Kehl, Bender; Blaszczykowski, Gotze, Reus; Lewandowski
So the good news for Dortmund is that Schmelzer is indeed passed fit after he picked up a knock in the week during training. However Ilkay Gundogan does miss out as expected.
Ukraine are still in their long winter break until the start of March, so Shakhtar have a full-strength side out. However, the two months without league football could make it hard for them to get going. New signing Taison makes his debut.
Shakhtar have been playing friendlies in less cold countries and have been on good form throughout, winning 10 of 12 since the start of December.
Amazingly it has been 15 years since Dortmund reached the knockout phase of the Champions League. To me they remain one of the classic European sides when I was growing up. They won the whole thing in 1997, beating Juventus in the final 3-1 and were knocked out a year later in the semis by Real Madrid.
Although it has to be remembered that four of those years would have been down to that baffling decision to make two group stages.
One thing to expect tonight is goals. These sides managed just three clean sheets between them in the group phase from the 12 games played and both have a wealth of attacking options.
Jacub Blaszczykowski, Mario Gotze and Marco Reus in behind Robert Lewandowski is one of the most exciting attacks in European football. Likewise, Shakhtar are one of the very best passing sides in the world, although sometimes can be accused of lacking an end product. Not so far, though, they have netted 12 times in six games up to now.
Shakhtar only made their debut in the competition in the 2010-11 season. They were knocked out by Barcelona at the quarter-final stage that year.
Shakhtar have already faced two Champions League winners in the knockout stage, Chelsea and Juventus, and tonight will take on their third in the shape of the German champions.
We'll bring you a last-minute look at the odds.
The bookies really don’t want to call this one. The Miners can be had at 6/4 with Dortmund not much longer at around 8/5. A draw? Again, not much in it. Around 5/2 is the best you can get on that.
With that in mind, I’m plumping for Shakhtar by the odd goal. Ukraine is always a hard place to travel to in European competition, but rarely are the teams of the quality of Donetsk. I think 2-1, possibly 3-1 at a stretch, would be a good bet.
Apologies for the slight technical hitch just then. Hopefully we're ok now.
I'm certainly interested in seeing how Taison does. Yet another Brazilian, of which Shakhtar have had their fair share, he scored 13 in 57 for his last club, Metalist. Not prolific by any means, but he is technically gifted and will surely fit right in with his teammates and their flowing possession football.
The teams are just coming out, not long now. How will Shakhtar perform in the post-Willian era? Taison is his direct replacement, but it is a big ask to live up to the reputation of the now-Anzhi man.
A minute's silence of course for the plane crash in which four people were killed. The plane was carrying Donetsk fans to the Donbass from the West of the country.
We're off!
Both sides looking to attack early. Srna attacks down the right for Shakhtar but his cross is too high for the waiting Mkhitaryan.
Dortmund, in their change colours of black shirts and yellow shorts, try to break down the left, but Gotze's hooked pass to Reus is headed clear.
Schmelzer swings in a deep free kick. It's headed up in the air to Blaszczykowski, who attempts a spectacular overhead kick, but miscues well wide. Dortmund looking stronger so far.
Mkhitaryan bundled over by Mats Hummels but correctly no free kick. Straight up the other end Blaszczykowski has a half-chance wide in the box, but pulls it way wide of the far post.
CHANCE! Lewandowski rises above his marker to meet a left-wing Gotze cross, but he puts his header wide.
Reus strikes at goal from 35 yards from a free kick, but it’s easy for Pyatov, although it was on target and firmly struck.
Reus strikes at goal from 35 yards from a free kick, but it’s easy for Pyatov, although it was on target and firmly struck.
Still Dortmund doing most of the pressing. Lewandowski is causing trouble with his strength in the air and movement into the channels.
OFF THE BAR! Hummels powers a header towards goal from a corner and Pyatov can only watch as it crashes off the bar to safety. Dortmund should be leading this one.
CHANCE! Reus glides across from right to left and shoots from outside the box, but it doesn't have enough to beat Pyatov, who clings on.
GOAL UPDATE: Real Madrid 0-1 Manchester United (Danny Welbeck)
Back to this game and Shakhtar are still really struggling to get out of their own half. They're passing comfortably among the defence but are losing out whenever they break into the Dortmund third.
Donetsk win a corner after Srna is picked out with a superb raking diagonal ball by Rat. However, it comes to nothing although they keep up the pressure with a free kick; Teixeira fouled by Lewandowski.
Now Shakhtar are coming into it. Good work at the back lets Taison away, who spins clear of Piszczek before being pulled back. Their passes are suddenly finding the target, but not their shooting as Mkhitaryan bobbles one wide from range. It took a knock for a corner but again it comes to nothing.
Still that header from Hummels remains the best chance of the game. Now that Donetsk are attacking how can Dortmund cope at the other end? Fernandinho strikes from outside the box after a clearance from Santana, but there was no danger.
GOAL UPDATE: Real 1-1 United (Ronaldo)
Luis Adriano the next home player to go to ground. This time Santana clumsily brings him down from about 25 yards out. Really good chance here.
GOAL! Shakhtar 1-0 Dortmund (Srna)
Wow. You just sensed there was a chance here but what a free kick that is! It's not right in the corner, but the power to get it over the wall and back down was just superb. Dortmund have blown their early start here.
Donetsk sense blood now. Superb pace from Tiason down the left who bursts through at pace but his cross is put behind for a corner. Dortmund hanging on all of a sudden.
Now Dortmund's passes are off target in the Shakhtar third. The hosts break again after a superb sliding tackle from Fernandinho, but his pass goes through to Roman Weidenfeller.
CHANCE! Blaszczykowski again looks to find his range. His shot from just outside the box is straight down the throat of Pyatov, though.
Gotze is obstructed by Chygrynskiy needlessly, and now Dortmund have a good chance from a free kick just to the right of the box.
Schmelzer drives in the cross but Rat gets it away well. From the resulting throw Blaszczykowski again works space wide in the box. This time it's closer but again dragged wide of the left-hand post.
Awful delivery from Gotze towards Lewandowski goes straight into the arms of Pyatov. Dortmund are coming back into this, though. Can they equalise before the break?
GOAL! Shakhtar 1-1 Dortmund (Lewandowski)
Yes, yes they can. Gotze gets two attempts at a cross and the second one finds Lewandowski in the box. He gets lucky with a wild miskick, but it falls kindly and he slots it into the bottom corner.
It has to be said that Dortmund deserve to be level in this and now they're piling forward for the second. Really good game of knockout football so far.
CHANCE! How are Shakhtar not back ahead? Taison drills in a cross-shot from the left, which Weidenfeller fumbles at the feet of Adriano. It falls to Teixeira, but he's too near the byline to cause damage with it and Dortmund eventually clear.
HALF-TIME: Shakhtar 1-1 Dortmund
Dortmund have a crucial away goal and in truth it's no more than they deserve. Aside from a spell of around 10 minutes, in which Shakhtar scored, the Germans have been on top of this one and can count themselves unlucky not to be ahead.
It was a fantastic free kick that opened the scoring from Darijo Srna, not long after Hummels had hit the bar with a header from a corner.
It was a great time for the equaliser for the Germans. Lewandowski got lucky by taking out two defenders with an airshot, but remained calm to slot into the bottom corner. Now there is everything to play for in the second half.
UPDATE: It's also 1-1 in the other tie at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo equalised Welbeck's opener with a superb hanging header. The report for that one can he read here.
... While the report of the action from Donetsk can be read here.
An interesting tidbit from @InfostradaLive: "Dortmund’s lineup is their youngest ever in the CL knockout phase. Shakthar’s lineup is their oldest ever in the CL knockout phase."
The teams are back out, we're almost ready for the second half.
Here we go then. Which team can press on and take the win? I still think Shakhtar will edge it, despite Dortmund's first-half showing.
Unconventional defending there from Srna. A deep cross comes in from Piszczek and he glances back to his goalkeeper, nearly finding the bottom corner in the process. Dortmund have started the brighter team.
Briliant from Fernandinho who dinks it over Gotze and then Kehl, but Dortmund are back on the ball high up the pitch.
Now Shakhtar are just coming into the half a little. Some nice passing at the back ends with Srna getting the ball wide right. He links up with Fernandinho but good defending from Dortmund forces them back again.
CHANCE! Adriano is sent away down the right with a crisp early pass. He cuts back to Mkhitaryan in the box and his shot is well blocked by Santana. First real threat in the half, that.
Lewandowski creates a chance for himself with an unbelievable piece of chest control from a Piszczek drilled pass. His shot on the turn is easy for Pyatov, however.
Dortmund back on the ball now and passing crisply. However it breaks down and Adriano is bundles over by Hummels. No free-kick, however. Odd decision by Howard Webb.
The game is quite scrappy currently. Any time either side gets close to the attacking third the move breaks down. Shakhtar work a deep throw here, can anything come from it?
Dortmund must have had about two-thirds of the possession in this half. Shakhtar are deliberately set up to break in the opening 15 minutes.
SHAKHTAR SUB: Douglas Costa is on for Taison. his first involvement is to foul Piszczek.
SHAKHTAR SUB: Douglas Costa is on for Taison. his first involvement is to foul Piszczek.
His second touch is much better, however, as he skins Shmelzer to set up a break, but his teammates eventually ruin it as Rakitskiy overhits a cross.
There has been a real lack of chances in this half; it seems somewhat nervy after an open first 45. Gotze looks to get in behind Rat. He eventually crosses and Hubschman has to hack behind his own goal.
GOAL! Shakhtar 2-1 Dortmund (Costa)
What a fantastic finish that is from Costa, but where was the defence? The goal comes from nothing, as a long ball goes over the top, Costa controls it with his left and fires it into the bottom corner acrobatically with the same foot. Super finish and a good choice to bring him on!
Hummels has had an excellent game until that point, letting Costa in too easily. It's a shame for Dortmund but they haven't created anything this half.
Dortmund now must come from behind again, can they do it for a second time? They certainly showed more than enough in the first half but the next goal is really crucial in this tie now.
CHANCE! What a chance Lewandowski! Gotze finds the Pole on the edge of the six-yard box but he volleys wide! He really should have scored that.
The Germans are still pressing hard, but Shakhtar are now looking good on the break. Mkhitaryan cannot find a teammate after skinning Hummels.
They have another free kick here. Firther out than Srna's goal. Fernandinho steps over it... It's not him, it's Rakitskiy instead and it's way, way over.
Bender's pass to Reus is cut out my Srna. Shakhtar break and Hummels clears for a throw. There's another goal in this, I think. Donetsk will probably need another with that away goal for the Germans.
DORTMUND SUB: Blaszczykowski comes off for Moritz Leitner.
The movement is not as good for Dortmund as it was in the first half. They're looking a little bit sluggish up front, but Gotze does really well to win a corner.
The Germans are starting to set up camp in the Shakhtar third now, but they need to be aware of the counter. This time Hummels deals well with a long ball aimed at Adriano.
Not a great deal of urgency from either side at the moment. In truth, the score suits both teams. Dortmund would fancy their chances in the away leg but Shakhtar would have a lead to cling on to.
GOAL! Shakhtar 2-2 Dortmund (Hummels)
Hummels makes up for his error by getting free in the box and thumping a header in from a corner. They won a few in a row and finally made one count; advantage very much Dortmund.
I said the next goal would be crucial and if it stays like this you'd have to fancy the German outfit in the return leg.
There will be three minutes added on here. Will we see another goal? I don't think so, as Julian Schieber comes on for Reus.
Dortmund really want this result. They're now compact and fighting for every ball.
FULL-TIME: Shakhtar 2-2 Dortmund
A fantastic game of football ends, justly, all square. Dortmund twice fought back from going behind and they are in the driving seat with the two away goals.
Thanks for joining me. That's all we've got time for in this one as it sets up what should be an equally exciting second leg. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
