Fantastic win!
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Shakhtar hosted Greek side AEK in the second round of the UEFA Champions League league phase
Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan named the following starting XI for the team’s second European fixture: Riznyk started in goal, Matviienko and Bondar played at centre-back, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique operated at full-back, Ocheretko, Pedrinho and Marlon Gomes formed the midfield, Newertton and Alisson were deployed on the wings, with Kaua Elias up front. It is worth noting that FC Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov was also in attendance at Stamford Bridge.
An entertaining first half with goals at both ends
The match got off to an eventful start, with both sides creating dangerous chances: Moukoudi headed against the right post following a corner, and at the other end, Alisson played a pass in behind the visitors’ defence, but Ocheretko was just short of getting on the end of it with a sliding effort. The Orange-and-Blacks then took control of possession and created several more chances. Alisson got the better of his opponent on the edge of the penalty area and shot towards the bottom left corner, but the Athens goalkeeper made the save. Newertton picked up a rebound on the right side of the penalty area, but his effort flew over the bar. AEK gradually pushed the game closer to the centre of the pitch, and first Jović fired over the bar from a good position before the Greeks took the lead in the 28th minute: Pilios finished a move down the left flank with a pass into the centre of the Pitmen’s penalty area, where Majer slotted the ball inside the right post. However, Arda Turan’s men hit back almost immediately. Alisson elegantly controlled the ball inside the penalty area and was brought down by an opponent. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty. Pedrinho stepped up and calmly beat Brignoli with a shot into the bottom-right corner to make it 1-1. Shortly afterwards, Pedro Henrique tried his luck with an unexpected effort from a tight angle, but the crossbar came to AEK’s rescue. The Athens side had a chance of their own, but Zini headed over from close range.
A full comeback with goals from Vinicius Tobias and Mendoza
The second half began with a shot from Newertton that hit one of his own teammates. Then it was time for Dmytro Riznyk to shine: first, the Miners’ goalkeeper denied Pilios from the left side of the penalty area before producing a superb save to tip Marin’s free-kick out of the top corner. Midway through the half, the Pitmen’s coaching staff made their first substitutions, bringing on Isaque and Mendoza. Ocheretko then had a great chance to score, meeting a corner from the right at the far post, but he failed to make proper contact with the ball with his head. The game quietened down for a spell as the Ukrainian side controlled possession in midfield and built up their attacks, but struggled to make progress towards the opposition goal. That was when individual brilliance made the difference. In the 80th minute, Vinicius Tobias received the ball from Alisson on the right side of the penalty area and fired into the near corner from almost on the byline. Brignoli was unable to keep AEK in the game – 2-1. Then, in the 86th minute, the hosts extended their advantage: Isaque found Gleiker Mendoza on the left side of the penalty area, with the latter cutting inside with his trademark move before unleashing a powerful shot into the far top corner!
3-1 – Shakhtar beat AEK in their first home match in the UEFA Champions League at Stamford Bridge!
In a week’s time, October 21, the Miners will face Italian champions Inter away in their next UEFA Champions League fixture. The game will take place at the Stadio San Siro in Milan, with kickoff scheduled for 22:00 Kyiv time.
This Saturday, October 17, Shakhtar will take on Kolos in the UPL round 9. The match at the Arena Lviv kicks off at 18:00. Tickets are available at shakhtar.com.
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 (1-1) AEK Athens
London, Stamford Bridge, att.: 29,144
Goals: 0-1 Majer (28′), 1-1 Pedrinho (34′, pen.), 2-1 Vinicius Tobias (80′), 3-1 Mendoza (86′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Ocheretko, Pedrinho (Isaque, 63′), Marlon Gomes (Nazaryna, 81′), Alisson (Lucas, 88′), Newertton (Mendoza, 63′), Kaua Elias (Meirelles, 88′)
An entertaining first half with goals at both ends
The match got off to an eventful start, with both sides creating dangerous chances: Moukoudi headed against the right post following a corner, and at the other end, Alisson played a pass in behind the visitors’ defence, but Ocheretko was just short of getting on the end of it with a sliding effort. The Orange-and-Blacks then took control of possession and created several more chances. Alisson got the better of his opponent on the edge of the penalty area and shot towards the bottom left corner, but the Athens goalkeeper made the save. Newertton picked up a rebound on the right side of the penalty area, but his effort flew over the bar. AEK gradually pushed the game closer to the centre of the pitch, and first Jović fired over the bar from a good position before the Greeks took the lead in the 28th minute: Pilios finished a move down the left flank with a pass into the centre of the Pitmen’s penalty area, where Majer slotted the ball inside the right post. However, Arda Turan’s men hit back almost immediately. Alisson elegantly controlled the ball inside the penalty area and was brought down by an opponent. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty. Pedrinho stepped up and calmly beat Brignoli with a shot into the bottom-right corner to make it 1-1. Shortly afterwards, Pedro Henrique tried his luck with an unexpected effort from a tight angle, but the crossbar came to AEK’s rescue. The Athens side had a chance of their own, but Zini headed over from close range.
A full comeback with goals from Vinicius Tobias and Mendoza
The second half began with a shot from Newertton that hit one of his own teammates. Then it was time for Dmytro Riznyk to shine: first, the Miners’ goalkeeper denied Pilios from the left side of the penalty area before producing a superb save to tip Marin’s free-kick out of the top corner. Midway through the half, the Pitmen’s coaching staff made their first substitutions, bringing on Isaque and Mendoza. Ocheretko then had a great chance to score, meeting a corner from the right at the far post, but he failed to make proper contact with the ball with his head. The game quietened down for a spell as the Ukrainian side controlled possession in midfield and built up their attacks, but struggled to make progress towards the opposition goal. That was when individual brilliance made the difference. In the 80th minute, Vinicius Tobias received the ball from Alisson on the right side of the penalty area and fired into the near corner from almost on the byline. Brignoli was unable to keep AEK in the game – 2-1. Then, in the 86th minute, the hosts extended their advantage: Isaque found Gleiker Mendoza on the left side of the penalty area, with the latter cutting inside with his trademark move before unleashing a powerful shot into the far top corner!
3-1 – Shakhtar beat AEK in their first home match in the UEFA Champions League at Stamford Bridge!
In a week’s time, October 21, the Miners will face Italian champions Inter away in their next UEFA Champions League fixture. The game will take place at the Stadio San Siro in Milan, with kickoff scheduled for 22:00 Kyiv time.
This Saturday, October 17, Shakhtar will take on Kolos in the UPL round 9. The match at the Arena Lviv kicks off at 18:00. Tickets are available at shakhtar.com.
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 (1-1) AEK Athens
London, Stamford Bridge, att.: 29,144
Goals: 0-1 Majer (28′), 1-1 Pedrinho (34′, pen.), 2-1 Vinicius Tobias (80′), 3-1 Mendoza (86′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Ocheretko, Pedrinho (Isaque, 63′), Marlon Gomes (Nazaryna, 81′), Alisson (Lucas, 88′), Newertton (Mendoza, 63′), Kaua Elias (Meirelles, 88′)
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