Shakhtar Donetsk are moving their Champions League “home” matches to London, with Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge hosting AEK Athens as the club continue to operate in wartime exile.
01Summary
- 01Shakhtar Donetsk will play their European home matches in England this season, with Stamford Bridge chosen as the venue.
- 02The club are travelling from their base near Lviv to London for Wednesday’s game against AEK Athens.
- 03Head coach Arda Turan was appointed in May 2025 and says the team want to show the world they are alive.
- 04The article says border crossings can take up to 18 hours and that Shakhtar have previously used Poland, Germany and Slovakia for home matches in Europe.
02Why it matters
It shows how Ukraine’s war continues to reshape football, forcing Shakhtar to play away from home and making even routine European fixtures a major logistical challenge. For readers, it is a reminder of the strain on clubs and players living and working through the conflict.
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