Zinedine Zidane stunned after Covid-hit Shakhtar shock Real Madrid - in pictures

Spanish giants beaten at home in Champions League

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane had a tough night in the Champions League as Shakhtar Donetsk recorded a shock 3-2 win. Reuters

Shakhtar Donetsk's Tete celebrates scoring their first goal. Reuters

Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois reacts after Raphael Varane scores an own goal and Shakhtar Donetsk's second. Reuters

Shakhtar Donetsk's Manor Solomon (L) celebrates with Dentinho after scoring his team's third goal. AFP

Marcelo, Raphael Varane and Luka Modric of Real Madrid look dejected after conceding a third goal. Getty

Real Madrid's Luka Modric celebrates with midfielder Federico Valverde (L) after scoring their first. AFP

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior scores his side's second goal. AP

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters

Referee Srdjan Jovanovic rules out a Real Madrid goal after checking VAR. Getty

Vitao celebrates with Anatolii Trubin after the victory for Shakhtar. Getty

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema reacts at the end of the natch. AFP

Shakhtar Donetsk's Portuguese coach Luis Castro celebrates a famous win. AFP

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior falls. AFP

Real Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane says his team are short of confidence. EPA

Coach Zinedine Zidane believes Real Madrid's confidence is shot after a shock 3-2 home defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League opener - but shouldered the blame for his side's slide in form.

Shakhtar were without 10 players due to a combination of Covid-19 positives and injuries but blew the 13-times European champions away in the first half, taking a 3-0 lead and missing more chances to add to the scoreline.

Real responded with goals from Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior after the break and had a last-gasp goal ruled out for offside but Zidane did not hide from the fact his side had been outplayed by their depleted opponents.

"We were lacking a bit of everything today but worst of all we were lacking confidence," Zidane said.

"It's difficult to think of what to say when you concede three goals in the first half. We made a mistake with their first goal and from then on it was very difficult.

"I'm left with a very bad feeling because of everything that happened tonight. It's a bad game, a bad night but I'm the coach and I'm the one who has to find solutions. I didn't find them tonight and it's a very difficult moment for the players."

Real were also beaten in their last league outing to Cadiz and have to pick themselves up for Saturday's La Liga showdown at Barcelona, but Zidane did not think the twin defeats meant they could be in for a drubbing against their rivals.

"I have nothing to say to that, we're going to turn up there on Saturday and we're going to be prepared. This is a negative night for us but we have to change things," added Zidane, who has won three Champions League crowns with Real and guided them to the Spanish title last season.

"I feel awful for the players, who have won so many things for me and don't deserve this. But this is football, one day everything is grey and the next the sun comes out. Sometimes it's very difficult and tonight is one of those times."