On Wednesday, Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian champions, marked their debut at Stamford Bridge—now their temporary Champions League home—with a compelling 3-1 victory over AEK Athens. Thousands of supporters, wrapped in the blue-and-yellow colors of Ukraine, filled the stands to back their team in this significant match.
The Greek visitors initially took the lead when Lovro Majer scored in the 28th minute, putting AEK ahead. However, Shakhtar responded swiftly; just six minutes later, Pedrinho confidently converted a penalty to bring the match back on level terms.
Late Goals Secure Victory at Stamford Bridge
As the match approached its final stages, Shakhtar intensified their efforts. Around the 80th minute, Vinicius Tobias found the net from a challenging angle, giving the Ukrainian side the lead. The win was sealed when substitute Gleiker Mendoza cut in from the left and powered home a decisive goal, ensuring a comfortable finish for Shakhtar.
This win places Shakhtar on four points after two group stage matches in the Champions League, having previously drawn against PSV Eindhoven in their opener. With Chelsea absent from European competition this season, Shakhtar have adopted Stamford Bridge as their home ground for continental fixtures, continuing to represent eastern Ukraine on the European stage.