HNK Gorica vs Shakhtar Donetsk — Match Details | Betmana

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Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk beat HNK Gorica 2-0 in a pre-season friendly in Brdo, Slovenia. Pedrinho (40') and Alisson Santana (52') scored for the Ukrainian side.

Match Videos

Шахтар – Гориця – 2:0. Голи та огляд товариського матчу (23.07.2026)

Match Analysis

AI Summary

How it unfolded

Shakhtar dominated possession from the opening whistle at the Slovenian training base, with HNK Gorica — who finished ninth in the Croatian First League last season — largely pinned back in their own half. The breakthrough came in the 40th minute when Pedrinho found space inside the box and finished calmly to give Shakhtar a 1-0 lead.

Just two minutes later, Alisson Santana was shown a yellow card, but the Brazilian winger responded positively after the break. In the 52nd minute, Alisson Santana made it 2-0, scoring a goal that drew praise from Shakhtar's social media channels as a "brilliant" finish from the 20-year-old.

Both teams traded yellow cards in the 73rd minute — Gorica's A. Erceg and Shakhtar's Marlon — before Gorica's L. Vrzić was also booked in stoppage time. Shakhtar saw out the remainder of the match comfortably to record a clean sheet.

The turning point

Pedrinho's 40th-minute goal was the decisive moment. Coming just before the interval, it forced Gorica to push forward after the break, which created the space for Alisson Santana's second goal seven minutes into the second half. The quick double effectively ended the contest before the hour mark.

Key performers

Pedrinho — The Brazilian midfielder opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 40th minute, his first goal of pre-season. He was a constant threat in the final third before being substituted later in the second half.

Alisson Santana — The 20-year-old winger scored Shakhtar's second goal in the 52nd minute and was the most dangerous attacking outlet throughout. His booking for a late tackle in the 42nd minute was the only blemish on an otherwise excellent display.

Marlon — The Brazilian centre-back marshalled the defence effectively, keeping Gorica's attackers quiet. He was booked in the 73rd minute but otherwise controlled the backline with composure.

By the numbers — interpreted

Shakhtar's 2-0 scoreline reflects a game they controlled from the first whistle. The two goals came from Brazilian attackers — both Pedrinho and Alisson Santana — underscoring Shakhtar's traditional strength in South American talent. The four yellow cards (two per side) suggest a competitive but not ill-tempered friendly, typical of pre-season intensity. The clean sheet will be particularly pleasing for Shakhtar's coaching staff as they build towards the new Ukrainian Premier League season.

What it means

This was Shakhtar's third pre-season friendly of the summer, following matches against other Croatian opposition during their training camp in Slovenia. The Ukrainian side are building towards the start of the 2026/27 Ukrainian Premier League season, with their first league match scheduled for 3 August against Kudrivka. Shakhtar also have UEFA Conference League commitments to prepare for after finishing third in the Ukrainian Premier League last season.

For HNK Gorica, the match forms part of their pre-season programme ahead of the 2026/27 Croatian First League campaign. The Velika Gorica-based side finished ninth (second from bottom) in the 2024/25 season with 37 points from 36 matches, and will aim to improve on that standing this time around.

Verdict

A professional and controlled performance from Shakhtar against modest opposition. The Brazilian connection of Pedrinho and Alisson Santana provided the quality edge, while the defensive unit looked solid. Pre-season friendlies offer limited diagnostic value, but Shakhtar's build-up play and defensive organisation already look coherent with the new season approaching. Gorica struggled to create meaningful chances and will need sharper execution in the final third when competitive action resumes.