PSV look to avoid another costly Champions League home setback
The Eindhoven side enter their meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk in encouraging form after beating Ajax, but last season’s European exit provides a warning.
PSV will open their Champions League campaign at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, seeking a better start than they managed in the competition last season. Their previous campaign began with a home defeat by Union Saint-Gilloise, a result which contributed to the Eindhoven club failing to progress beyond the league phase.
The Dutch champions approach the Shakhtar fixture with momentum after winning an entertaining Eredivisie match against Ajax at the Johan Cruijff Arena. Shakhtar also completed a positive dress rehearsal, defeating Karpaty away from home. That response was important for the Ukrainian side after they had lost to domestic rival Polissya one week earlier.
PSV can also draw encouragement from their most recent home meeting with Shakhtar in the Champions League. In 2024, they recovered during a dramatic finish to claim a 3-2 victory. The circumstances nevertheless carry a reminder of last season: PSV are again beginning at home against opposition they will expect to beat, making an early result important to their prospects in the league phase.
With both teams arriving on the back of domestic victories, the opening fixture offers PSV an immediate chance to show they have learned from the mistakes that undermined their previous European campaign. Their victory in Amsterdam provides a strong platform, while the earlier 3-2 success gives them a favourable recent reference point against Shakhtar.
Reported first by
- PSV wil leren van CL-fouten: €100 voor één goal tegen Shakhtar!— VI Nederlands Elftal
This English write-up is our own summary of the reporting above. Full details remain with the original publishers — please read them at the source.