PSV welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to Philips Stadion on Thursday, September 10, for Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League. Kick-off in Eindhoven is scheduled for 16:45 local time. Both clubs enter the fixture in encouraging form: PSV have collected four wins and one draw from their last five matches, while Shakhtar have recorded four victories and one defeat over the same span. Their only previous meeting produced a dramatic 3-2 PSV win on November 27, 2024, and the available statistics point towards another lively contest. PSV have been particularly productive in attack but have repeatedly conceded, whereas the visitors have consistently found the net away from home. The Champions League rankings place PSV 19th and Shakhtar Donetsk 23rd ahead of this meeting.

PSV Recent Form and Key Statistics

PSV qualified after winning the 2025-26 Eredivisie title, their third successive domestic championship. They will become the first Dutch club to appear in the Champions League proper for a 20th time. Their previous campaign in the competition was less successful, however, as they finished 28th in the League Phase and missed the knockout rounds. PSV took eight points from eight matches, registering two wins, two draws and four defeats while scoring and conceding 16 goals.

The hosts have begun the current domestic campaign with four wins and one draw from their opening five games, scoring 18 times. Their latest result was a 3-1 victory against Ajax on September 5. Across their last five fixtures, PSV have averaged 3.6 goals scored and 1.2 conceded per match. They have also scored at least once in 23 consecutive games and found the net twice or more in each of their last 11 matches.

The home numbers reinforce PSV's attacking credentials. They are unbeaten in five competitive fixtures at Philips Stadion and have scored at least two goals in each of their last 10 home matches. Their last 19 home games have all produced over 2.5 total goals, while the most recent six have gone beyond 3.5. In Champions League home fixtures, PSV have scored in 16 consecutive matches, with over 2.5 goals recorded in the latest nine.

Defensive vulnerability is the central concern. PSV have conceded at least once in 19 of their last 20 matches, and both teams have scored in 19 of those 20 fixtures. They have also allowed a goal in each of their last 16 Champions League games. At home, both sides scored during the second half in PSV's last four matches in the competition.

Ricardo Pepi is one of the hosts' notable attacking threats after scoring three times in his last four league appearances. He also struck the 95th-minute winner in the previous meeting with Shakhtar and registered four direct goal contributions across five Champions League appearances last season. Ruben van Bommel has supplied five goal contributions in his last four league matches, comprising two goals and three assists, including an assist against Ajax.

PSV will be without Alassane Plea, Jerdy Schoten, Sam Ouaissa, Kiliann Sildillia and Dennis Man because of injuries. Mauro Junior is suspended for Matchday 1.

Shakhtar Donetsk Recent Form and Key Statistics

Shakhtar Donetsk return to the Champions League after winning their domestic championship last season. They had finished third in the Ukrainian Premier League in 2024-25 before returning to the summit during the following campaign. In European competition last term, Shakhtar finished sixth in the Conference League's League Phase and defeated AZ Alkmaar 5-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Their run ended in the semi-finals with a 5-2 aggregate defeat against Crystal Palace.

The visitors have taken 12 points from their first five league games this season, winning four and losing one while scoring 10 goals and conceding four. Their latest outing ended in a 2-1 victory against Karpaty on September 5. Across their most recent five matches, Shakhtar have averaged two goals scored and 0.8 conceded. They have not drawn any of their last 15 fixtures, illustrating a sequence in which games have consistently produced a decisive result.

Shakhtar's away form gives them reason for confidence. They have won five consecutive competitive matches on the road across the summer break and kept clean sheets in three of those victories. The Miners scored at least twice in four of their final five away games in last season's Conference League, while they have found the net in each of their last 14 competitive away fixtures.

Kaua Elias is Shakhtar's leading scorer this season with three goals. Luca Meirelles led the attack against Karpaty, while Elias is expected to start this fixture. Pedro Henrique also returns to the focus after being dismissed when Shakhtar held a 2-0 advantage in the clubs' previous encounter, before PSV recovered to win 3-2.

The visitors are without Pedrinho, Marlon and Eguinaldo through injury. Goalkeeper Kiril Fesyun is unavailable for the foreseeable future because of a heart condition.

PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk Match Analysis

The statistical profile of this Champions League fixture is strongly geared towards goals. Over 1.5 total goals have been recorded in PSV's last 34 matches and in their last 14 Champions League games. Their latest nine matches have all gone over 2.5, as have their previous 19 home fixtures. PSV's powerful scoring form is therefore supported by several extended sequences rather than only their strong opening results this season.

There are also clear indicators of early and late action. At least one first-half goal has been scored in PSV's last 17 matches and their previous 10 home games. PSV have led at half-time in each of their latest four fixtures. For Shakhtar, a first-half goal has been registered in 19 of their last 21 Champions League matches, although the visitors have trailed at the interval in seven of their previous 10 away games in the competition.

PSV hold home advantage and have a 49% win probability, compared with 23% for the draw and 28% for a Shakhtar victory. Nevertheless, the hosts' repeated difficulty keeping clean sheets makes the result market less straightforward. Shakhtar's sequence of scoring in 14 consecutive competitive away games suggests they can contribute, while PSV's run of scoring in 23 straight matches makes a home goal well supported. The only head-to-head encounter also finished with both teams on the scoresheet, producing five goals in PSV's 3-2 comeback victory.

PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk prediction from BetMines: Both Teams To Score (Yes) with 57% probability.