Shakhtar Donetsk vs Al Ula

There was no single decisive moment in a game that never found a goal. The closest Shakhtar came was Gocholeishvili's 50th-minute effort — had that gone in, Al-Ula's deep block would have been forced to open up, likely creating more space for the hosts. Instead, the save kept the Saudi side's game plan intact, and Shakhtar ran out of time.

Gocholeishvili — the liveliest attacking outlet for Shakhtar, causing problems down the right flank and creating the match's best chance with a driven shot that needed a fine foot save.

Ryan Roberto — the Brazilian winger registered Shakhtar's only shot on target in the first half-hour with a long-range effort, though his influence waned as Al-Ula's defensive fouls broke the rhythm.

Gleiker Mendoza — the new signing showed flashes of intent in his debut appearance, drawing a desperate sliding tackle after cutting in from the left.

Al-Ula goalkeeper — unnamed in match reports but made crucial saves from Roberto, Gocholeishvili and Meirelles to keep a deserved clean sheet.

With no official match statistics from the provider, the Shakhtar match report tells the story: the Ukrainian side dominated possession and territory but managed only a handful of genuine chances. The single shot on target in the first half-hour rose to perhaps three or four by full-time, but the xG (if tracked) would likely fall below 1.0. Al-Ula's defensive foul count — at least enough to disrupt Shakhtar's rhythm — was their primary tactical weapon, and it worked. The 0-0 scoreline was predicted with a 6.6% likelihood by pre-match data models, making it an uncommon but not improbable outcome.

This was Shakhtar's final friendly before a quick turnaround: they faced Turkish side Bursaspor on 26 July, just 24 hours later. The goalless draw continued a mixed pre-season — Shakhtar had beaten Gorica 2-0 on 23 July and drawn 2-2 with Slaven Koprivnica before that, with a 5-0 win over Rudes.

For Al-Ula, the result against a Champions League-calibre opponent will be a confidence boost as they continue their own pre-season build-up.

A pre-season friendly played at training intensity, with Shakhtar controlling the ball but lacking incision in the final third. The 0-0 draw was a fair reflection of a game with few clear chances. Turan will want more from his forwards before the Ukrainian Premier League season resumes, though the debut of Mendoza offered a glimpse of potential new attacking options.