Jadson Hattrick As Shakhtar Donetsk Destroy Shambolic Basel

Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 Basel

Basel continued their embarrassing Champions League campaign with yet another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk, who have sealed third place in Group C and will be playing UEFA Cup football in February.

The Man of the Match on the night was Jadson, who netted a hattrick of superb strikes, with Willian and Yevhen Seleznyov picking up a goal each.

From the first whistle, the hosts looked a far more accomplished side, with a few early exchanges making Basel look very much out of their depth, despite Shakhtar themselves having not yet found their rhythm.

There was no shot on target until the 18th minute, when Croatian international Darijo Srna won himself a free-kick, which he curled over the wall only to be denied by Franco Costanzo in the visitors' goal.

Midway through the first half, Basel put together their first convincing attacking move, which culminated in youngster Valentin Stocker having his header tipped over the bar.

Shakhtar were back down the other end within seconds, though, with Fernandinho showcasing his skill before Willian blasted wide.

Basel began growing in confidence as the half-hour approached, but after 32 minutes it was shattered when Jadson smashed an exceptional opening goal into the top corner, capping a superb counterattack in which he himself, Willian and Razvan Rat had played key parts.

It remained 1-0 at the break - either side of which the visitors looked full of intent - but it was to count for nothing when Willian doubled the scoreline for Shakhtar after 50 minutes.

Fernandinho had just forced a fine save from Costanza, but he had no chance when Willian - who had not allowed some rough treatment from Basel defenders to deter his attacking instincts - worked his way past two players before producing a sublime finish into the far corner.

Basel, knowing by now they were out of Europe, lost what little fight they had left and continued committed careless fouls as the game looked to be heading towards a scrappy and uneventful finish.

Shakhtar had other ideas. Shortly after the hour mark Jadson got his second and the hosts' third, Basel again blitzed on the counterattack, with Srna's ball fizzed across goal for the Brazilian to slot home at the far post.

And less than 10 minutes later, he had his hattrick, with the Swiss again caught on the break, Willian pivotal once more, along with Fernandinho and Jadson as ever on hand to smash home from close range.

On the 75 minute mark, Shakhtar made it five, with Jadson this time turning provider for substitute Selevnov, who took his shot well and early at the near post.

Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov was called into perhaps his first meaningful bit of action throughout the entire game in the dying minutes, when a promising Basel attack resulted in a close-range effort from promising striker Erin Derdiyok, who was denied by the Shakhtar stopper, with full-time following soon after and Basel's misery and humiliation very much compounded.

Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com