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In the first match of the UEFA Champions League, PSV will host Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday evening. The clubs have faced each other once before, in 2024. That match proved to be a truly memorable evening. It has been nearly two years since PSV and Shakhtar Donetsk faced off. This match took place on November 27, 2024, when PSV initially seemed headed for an inglorious defeat. However, the score completely turned around in the final eight minutes of that match. Unbelievable goals by Malik Tillman (2x) and Ricarco Pepi sent the Philips Stadium into a frenzy. Shakhtar Donetsk was eliminated in that very first-ever group stage. PSV made it to the round of 16, where Arsenal proved to be too strong. Current Form of Shakhtar Donetsk Shakhtar Donetsk is currently in second place in the Ukrainian Premjer Liha, tied on points with Polissya Zhytomyr. They recently lost 0–2 to the league leader. Last year, the club won the Ukrainian national championship by a massive points margin and reached the semifinals of the UEFA Conference League, but was unable to overcome Crystal Palace FC. They achieved these results under the leadership of Arda Turan, who is still at the helm. None of the goal scorers from two years ago are still with Shakhtar Donetsk. Right now, Thursday’s visitors are relying on Alisson and Kauã Elias. Alisson has two goals and two assists to his credit after five matches. Elias has scored three goals, all of which came in the same match against FC Kudrivka. Over the past ten seasons, Shakhtar Donetsk has competed in the UEFA Champions League nine times. Due to the war in Ukraine, Shakhtar is playing its home games at Stamford Bridge, the home stadium of Chelsea FC. League PSV has yet to lose a league match this season and is in good form following last Sunday’s victory over Ajax. Starting debutant Lutsharel Geertruida found the back of the net in Amsterdam, thereby making a strong first impression. With thirteen points, Peter Bosz ’s team is in second place in the league and has a goal difference of twelve goals. Ricardo Pepi has three goals to his credit after five matches. Despite the high goal difference, however, the team has yet to keep a clean sheet in any match this season. Last season, PSV did not advance beyond the league phase, whereas the season before they had advanced two rounds further. Of the new signings made during the transfer window, Sami Ouaissa, Sam Lammers, and Mikkel Bro Hansen have not yet seen any action.