Postmatch editorial
The pre-match tension never quite broke
The final score was AZ Alkmaar 2-2 Shakhtar Donetsk. The draw was not the loudest pre-match angle, but the game never fully escaped its balance.
The late equaliser came from Luca Meirelles 83', which kept the game level at the finish.
The raw numbers were a little messier than the result: Shakhtar Donetsk led Shots on target 3-6, even though the scoreboard went another way. Shakhtar Donetsk also shaded Total shots 8-14.
Before kickoff, the median bookmaker prices made AZ Alkmaar the favourite at 39.1% implied probability. That market lean missed.
Market check
Market result
AZ Alkmaar
39.1%
Key stats
Match numbers
Shots on target
Shakhtar DonetskAZ Alkmaar
Shakhtar Donetsk
3
6
Total shots
Shakhtar DonetskAZ Alkmaar
Shakhtar Donetsk
8
14
Possession
AZ AlkmaarAZ Alkmaar
Shakhtar Donetsk
54%
46%