Shakhtar Donetsk Forward Alisson: A Dream Come True as He Prepares for Champions League Debut

Alisson, who came from Atletico Mineiro, is about to fulfill one of the biggest dreams of his career. The forward will wear the Shakhtar Donetsk shirt in the Champions League for the first time. In good form at the start of the season, he spoke to GE about his expectations for his first appearance in Europe's top club competition.

"I can calmly say that this is a dream come true. It is not just one dream, but one of several dreams I have had as a professional player. This is a competition I watched growing up. I imagined myself standing on that stage, and now I can finally make it happen," said the former Atletico Mineiro player.

Alisson scored two goals and provided two assists in the first five rounds of the Ukrainian league. His performances at the start of the season also earned him the club's Player of the Month award, which was decided by fan voting. Alisson said the strong start to the season has given him more confidence for the biggest challenge of his career.

"Of course I have confidence. It is not just me; the whole team is in good form, full of confidence, and very aware of our potential. We have worked hard to get here, and now it is time to enjoy it and do what we love and what we do best," he said.

Shakhtar Donetsk will face a series of traditional strong opponents in the league phase, including Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Alisson said the intensity of Champions League competition will be at a higher level than the matches he has experienced so far with Ukrainian clubs.

"I think the Champions League will take us to a different level of competition. Last season we were already tested in the Europa League and the Conference League, where the opponents were traditional strong teams from other countries. Next we will face PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and other teams, so there will certainly be many tough matches. But we are ready, and we are looking forward to every challenge," he said in conclusion.