Arrasate hopes to pull off another Champions League upset

The 35-year-old saw his side knock out Lyon in
the play-off round and believes a lack of
experience will not hinder them in Group A
Real Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate believes
his team will beat Shakhtar Donetsk in their
Group A opener, despite their lack of
Champions League experience.
La Real have reached the group stage for the
first time since 2003 after knocking out Lyon
in the play-off round, while the Ukrainian
outfit are making their seventh appearance in
eight years.
They may have not featured as regularly as
their Group A opponents Manchester United,
Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar, but Arrasate is
confident in his side’s ability to reach the
knockout stages.
“We know we’re in a group that’s difficult, but
attractive at the same time,” he told reporters.
“This game is very important, we’re playing at
home in what is a short group stage and we
want to play a good match.
“If we play to our level, I am confident we can
win.
“They've got a lot more experience in this
competition than us, starting with their coach,
but so did Lyon.”
The two sides have never met in European
competition before, but Arrasate is well aware
of the capabilities of Shakhtar, who helped
knock out Chelsea in the group stage last
season.
“Their experience in Europe stands out. They’re
used to competing in the Champions League,
they have a lot of quality and they’re not
afraid to play their game," he continued.
“On the one hand we have to try to negate
their strengths while also playing our game to
give ourselves a chance of winning. We’ve
analysed them a lot and we know what we’re
up against.
“They are team who go out to win games, with
a defined style of play and they’re not going to
change. We’ll be trying to impose our own
style and it should be an open and attractive
game.”
On the opposing sidelines, Shakhtar coach
Mircea Lucescu is familiar with Spanish
opposition, having faced the likes of
Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia in recent years,
but remains guarded ahead of their trip to the
Anoeta Stadium.
“Real Sociedad are a good team. Any team that
play in the Spanish league as they do and
qualify for the Champions League are a
difficult team," he said.
“They have the same players as last season and
they know how to play together. They’re a
well-structured team, they have top-class
players and they’re playing at home in front of
their supporters.
“They have great players like [Antoine]
Griezmann, [Xavi] Prieto, [Haris] Seferovic,
[Carlos] Vela and Inigo Martínez and we have
to be ready for them.”