- 1 PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk: two attack-minded sides set the Philips Stadion alight
- 2 PSV Eindhoven: 10 points from four games, then a controlled Topper
- 3 Shakhtar Donetsk: 12 points from five games and a solid defence
- 4 Champions League prediction PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk: two attack-minded sides set the Philips Stadion alight 
Seven of PSV Eindhoven’s last 10 matches have seen both teams score. That stat pretty much tells you what to expect at the Philips Stadion on Thursday night.
Matchday one of the league phase brings this one on Thursday 10 September at 18:45, Dutch time and the same in France. PSV kick off their European campaign in front of their own fans.
Both clubs arrive with plenty of firepower in their lockers. The Dutch champions come in off a statement win in Amsterdam, while Shakhtar sit second in their domestic league.
The Ukrainian club’s situation remains unusual. Shakhtar play their European home games away from home and will host Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge this season.
The last meeting between these two produced a thriller. PSV won 3-2 at the Philips Stadion on 27 November 2024, five goals in one game and no shortage of chaos.
On paper, PSV are clear favourites at the Philips Stadion. Their domestic form suggests they should be able to handle this one.
The league phase means every point matters from night one. A place in the top 24 gets you into the play-offs, a realistic target for both clubs.
PSV are defending their domestic crown and return to Europe straight away. They booked their place by winning the Eredivisie last season.
Shakhtar arrive with four wins and just one defeat in the league. Twelve points from five games leave them second in Ukraine.
The common thread is tempo. PSV put six past FC Utrecht in one game, while Shakhtar have scored 10 across their five league matches.
The Dutch side are still riding high after a big win in Amsterdam. That 3-1 success at Ajax on Saturday stretched their lead over their old rivals to six points.
PSV Eindhoven: 10 points from four games, then a controlled Topper 
PSV had collected 10 points from their first four Eredivisie games. Three wins, one draw, no defeats for the reigning champions.
The scorelines tell the story of their attack. A 6-1 win over FC Utrecht and a 5-1 rout of FC Groningen came either side of a 2-1 success against Excelsior and a 2-2 draw at Fortuna Sittard.
The trip to the Johan Cruijff ArenA backed up the pattern. PSV won 3-1 in last weekend’s first Topper of the season at Ajax.
Three different scorers punished the hosts: Ricardo Pepi, Lutsharel Geertruida and Esmir Bajraktarevic. Tolu Arokodare had levelled for Ajax in the first half.
That win leaves the Eindhoven club six points clear of their direct rivals. Ajax still have a game in hand, but the balance of power right now is obvious.
The only real concern is at the back. PSV have conceded at least once in each of their last five league outings, Ajax included.
That open, goal-heavy profile fits their recent European history. PSV already beat Shakhtar 3-2 at home in 2024, in another end-to-end scrap.
PSV come into this one with a clear status in domestic football. The champions stayed unbeaten through their first five Eredivisie matches.
Their attacking punch remains the headline act. 11 goals across home matches against Utrecht and Groningen underline just how dangerous this side can be.
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Shakhtar Donetsk: 12 points from five games and a solid defence 
Shakhtar Donetsk sit second in the Ukrainian league with 12 points from five matches. Four wins and one defeat make up their record.
They’ve been balanced at both ends. 10 goals scored, four conceded, which is a much cleaner defensive return than Thursday’s opponents.
The domestic schedule hasn’t exactly been kind. A league match against Karpaty was set for 5 September, just five days before this trip to the Netherlands.
The league-phase draw didn’t do them many favours either. Shakhtar also face AEK Athens in October and Inter Milan, two games that could be decisive in the race for the play-offs.
The venue issue remains central for this club in exile. Their home matches are being played in England, with Real Madrid due at Stamford Bridge.
That naturally strips away the usual home advantage over the course of the campaign. Starting away to the Dutch champions is hardly the easiest way to get rolling.
Even so, the 2024 meeting gives the Ukrainians something to hold onto. They lost 3-2 at the Philips Stadion but still scored twice in a notoriously awkward ground.
Shakhtar’s best asset is their consistency in Ukraine. One defeat in five and just four goals conceded put them among the most reliable sides in their league.
The trip to Eindhoven still kicks off a tough run. Three top-level opponents are already waiting for the Ukrainian club across the eight league-phase games.
Probable PSV Eindhoven lineup: Not available at time of publication.
Probable Shakhtar Donetsk lineup: Not available at time of publication.
Champions League prediction PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Our prediction: both teams to score
The first argument is recent numbers. Seven of PSV’s last 10 matches have finished with goals at both ends, which says plenty about the balance, or lack of it, in this Dutch side.
The second is Shakhtar themselves. With 10 goals in five league games and two goals on their last visit to the Philips Stadion, they have enough to trouble this defence.
PSV are still favourites to win, but their leaky back line leaves the door open for Shakhtar. Both teams should score.
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