PSV Eindhoven - Shakhtar Donetsk

Thursday, 10 September 2026, marks the Champions League return for PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk as they meet at Philips Stadion for matchday 1. The hosts enter the contest in commanding form, having recently secured a 3-1 victory over Ajax and a dominant 6-1 win against FC Utrecht. While PSV looks to build on their previous 3-2 victory over the visitors in November 2024, they must navigate this challenge without the suspended Mauro Junior.

Shakhtar Donetsk arrives following a narrow 2-1 win against Karpaty, aiming to recover from a recent league defeat to Polissya Zhytomyr. With Pedrinho sidelined due to injury, the visitors will rely on the expected XI featuring Dmytro Riznyk and Mykola Matviyenko to contain a potent PSV attack. This encounter serves as a critical opening test for both sides as they look to establish early momentum in the competition.