Shakhtar Donetsk suffered their first defeat in the Europa League as Partizan Belgrade salvaged some pride after a dismal campaign.

Last year's UEFA Cup winners were assured of top spot in Group J heading into the game but coach Mircea Lucescu chose to retain most of his star names ahead of Ukraine's winter break and they would have been keen to end the group stage in style.

Partizan, in contrast, were just hoping to pick up their first points after five defeats - and they managed it thanks to Lamine Diarra's early goal.

The hosts began in determined fashion and Adam Ljajic, whose move to Manchester United recently fell through, saw his 25-yard free-kick tipped round the post by Shakhtar goalkeeper Andrei Pyatov in the fourth minute.

And less than three minutes later Partizan were ahead, Diarra netting from close range.

The visitors appeared shellshocked and they were saved by the woodwork moments later when Marko Lomic's corner was headed against the bar by Mladen Krstajic.

Shakhtar finally pulled themselves together and created a decent chance midway through the half but Luiz Adriano could not direct his shot on target.

Srdjan Knezevic began the second half by testing Pyatov but he could not get enough power behind his shot to really trouble the goalkeeper.

Fernandinho had looked the brightest spark for Shakhtar and he forced home goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic into a smart stop with a fierce long-range effort.

The same player was at it again after the hour mark but Bozovic came to his side's rescue once more.

The home side were hanging on slightly but Branislav Jovanovic did test Pyatov with a rare foray into the Shakhtar half.

Lucescu brought on Vitaliy Vitsenets and Oleksiy Gai as the visitors pushed for an equaliser but Partizan should have sown up victory in the 79th minute only for Krstajic to head wide from another Lomic corner.

Luis Fernandinho resumed his long-range battle with Bozovic in the final 10 minutes but this time the Brazilian could only send two efforts over the bar and Partizan were able to celebrate a morale-boosting victory.