Shakhtar Donetsk - AEK Athens

Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens arrive at Stamford Bridge on 14 October 2026 for a pivotal Champions League matchday 2 encounter. Both sides enter the contest with significant momentum, as Shakhtar Donetsk seeks to build on a solid defensive run that saw them keep clean sheets in their three most recent league outings, including a convincing 3-0 win against Veres Rivne. Their expected XI, anchored by Dmytro Riznyk in goal, aims to maintain the tactical discipline that earned them a hard-fought draw against PSV Eindhoven in their opening European fixture.

AEK Athens brings a potent attacking threat to the neutral venue, highlighted by a dominant 3-0 victory over OFI Crete in their latest domestic test. Despite the notable injury-related absences of Barnabas Varga and Thomas Strakosha, the expected lineup features a creative midfield trio of Milan Vitalis, Razvan Marin, and Lovro Majer. Having secured a victory against LASK in their previous Champions League outing, AEK Athens will look to sustain their high-scoring form against a resilient Shakhtar unit.