PSV Eindhoven is set to clash with Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2026-2027 Champions League, marking a significant moment for both teams. PSV, the reigning Eredivisie champions, hopes to improve on their last season's performance where they finished 28th in the Champions League, winning only 2 out of 8 matches. This year, they aim to break their streak of poor starts in the tournament, having lost their last five opening matches, with their last victory in a season opener dating back to 2015-2016 against Manchester United.

Despite their struggles in the Champions League, PSV enters this match with confidence after an unbeaten run in the Eredivisie, which includes four wins and a draw in their last five matches. They recently dominated Utrecht with a 6-1 victory and followed it up with a 3-1 win over Ajax, positioning themselves second in the league standings. However, their home form in the Champions League raises concerns, as they have lost four of their last five matches at home, conceding 17 goals.

On the other hand, Shakhtar Donetsk is also gearing up for their 20th Champions League season, the most among Ukrainian clubs. They recently secured their 16th national championship and are only one title behind Dynamo Kyiv in the all-time standings. Due to ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Shakhtar has been playing their home matches at Stamford Bridge in London. They missed out on the Champions League last season and were eliminated in the Europa League qualifiers, yet they made a notable run to the semifinals of the Conference League, losing to Crystal Palace.

Shakhtar has shown solid form in European competitions, losing only twice in their last eight matches, with five wins and one draw. They have a favorable record against Dutch teams, having lost just two of their last seven encounters. Domestically, Shakhtar has started the season strong, winning four of their first five matches in the Ukrainian Premier League, including a recent comeback victory against Karpaty Lviv.

The anticipated match between PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk is scheduled for 23:45 on September 10, 2026 (Vietnam time). With both teams looking to establish a strong start in the Champions League, fans can expect an exciting encounter.

Projected Lineups:

• PSV: Kovar, Dest, Geertruida, Obispo, Kostic, Sano, Fernandez, Perisic, Til, Van Bommel, Pepi.
• Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk, Karavaev, Bondar, Matvienko, Henrique, Ocheretko, Nazaryna, Gomes, Alisson, Elias, Newerton.