Shakhtar crack global top two for keeping the ball under pressure

Shakhtar Donetsk are the second-best side in the world at keeping the ball while under heavy pressure, according to a study released by the CIES Football Observatory. The ranking measured how effectively teams keep possession when opponents press them intensely, drawing on data from 60 leagues across the globe. Shakhtar's place near the top of that list says plenty about the squad's technical quality, and about a playing style designed to stay calm and composed even in the most crowded, high-intensity moments. The Donetsk club also made headlines recently after thumping Kudrivka, with Elias bagging a hat-trick.