Road to the final: FC Shakhtar Donetsk

An uncompromising defence combined with a touch of Brazilian class up front was the key to FC Shakhtar Donetsk's run to the UEFA Cup final. After finishing third in Group C of the UEFA Champions League, Shakhtar conceded just five times in eight UEFA Cup games while at the other end, Fernandinho (four) and Jadson (three) scored seven UEFA Cup goals between them.

UEFA Champions League Group C
Fernandinho's brilliant 30-metre free-kick had the European spotlight shining on Shakhtar from their opening game as they beat FC Basel 1893 2-1 away. That early promise, though, gave way to disappointment in successive defeats against FC Barcelona and Sporting Clube de Portugal twice. Jadson hit a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout of Basel on Matchday 5 to secure third spot and a UEFA Cup berth, but not even victory in the Camp Nou on Matchday 6 could lift them higher.

Round of 32
Shakhtar 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC
Tottenham Hotspur FC 1-1 Shakhtar (agg: 3-1)

Late goals proved the difference in both legs as Shakhtar quickly found their rhythm despite resuming their European campaign in the depths of the Ukrainian winter break. Yevgen Seleznov broke the deadlock on 79 minutes in Donetsk before Jadson's strike gave Shakhtar a comfortable cushion. Giovani Dos Santos's 55th-minute goal gave Tottenham hope at White Hart Lane but Fernandinho put the tie beyond doubt with two minutes to play.

Round of 16
PFC CSKA Moskva 1-0 Shakhtar
Shakhtar 2-0 PFC CSKA Moskva (agg: 2-1)

Vágner Love's penalty five minutes into the second half gave CSKA the edge in the first leg but the result was hard on Shakhtar, who had dominated much of the encounter. They turned the tables in Donetsk, though, as Pavel Mamaev brought down Fernandinho in the penalty area and the Brazilian slotted home the 54th-minute penalty. Fernandinho also had a hand in the decider, his cross eventually finding Luiz Adriano, who side-footed in.

Quarter-finals
Shakhtar 2-0 Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille 1-2 Shakhtar (agg: 4-1)

Goals in each half from Tomáš Hübschman and Jadson gave Shakhtar control after the first meeting and after withstanding heavy pressure in the first half at the Stade Vélodrome, Fernandinho stretched their lead on the break on 30 minutes. Hatem Ben Arfa drew OM level shortly before the break, but there was no way back for the French side when Luiz Adriano sealed the tie deep into injury time.

Semi-finals
FC Dynamo Kyiv 1-1 Shakhtar
Shakhtar 2-1 Dynamo Kyiv (agg: 3-1)

A Ukrainian side was assured of a place in the UEFA Cup final for the first time from this tie. Dmytro Chygrynskiy's own goal gave Dynamo the lead but substitute Willian teed up Fernandinho for the equaliser on 68 minutes. Jadson and Ismaël Bangoura traded strikes in the return then, with extra time looming, Ilsinho turned two defenders before shooting low into the far corner to decide an absorbing tie in the final minute.