Shakhtar Donetsk are out of the Champions League after defeat to Roma.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Champions League dream is over for another year after they lost 2-1 to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night.
The Ukrainian giants had won the first leg 2-1 at the Donbass Arena last month, as Facundo Ferreyra and Fred scored to cancel out Cengiz Under’s opener for Roma.
On Tuesday, Shakhtar headed to the Italian capital for the return leg, and slipped to a 1-0 defeat, with Edin Dzeko hitting the winner for Roma.
Roma advance into the last eight of the competition, but Shakhtar’s journey is over having been dumped out on away goals in Italy.
Having come through a tricky group including Manchester City, Napoli and Feyenoord, Shakhtar have impressed in this season’s Champions League, and their narrow exit to Roma is no great shame.
Manager Paulo Fonseca deserves huge praise for the way in which he has equipped his side for Europe’s premier club competition, and the attention now turns to the Portuguese manager’s future.
The Daily Mail recently reported that Fonseca is Farhad Moshiri’s top target to replace Sam Allardyce as Everton manager this summer, and Toffees fans unsurprisingly had comments to make after Shakhtar’s exit.
Many called for Everton to swoop now and land Fonseca now his Champions League dream is over, believing he is an exciting candidate for the job and must get a deal agreed quickly ahead of the summer.
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