Shakhtar Donetsk Seeks Stamford Bridge for Champions League Matches

Shakhtar Donetsk has identified Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge as its preferred venue for this season’s Champions League matches, according to sources. The Ukrainian champions have previously hosted their European games in Germany, Slovenia, and Poland but are aiming to play in London this year.

Although no formal agreement has been established regarding their playing location for the upcoming season, Shakhtar has considered three options: Fulham’s Craven Cottage, Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, and Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. Due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, Shakhtar is unable to host European fixtures in Ukraine.

Pending a finalized agreement, Shakhtar is poised to utilize Chelsea’s 40,000-capacity stadium in west London for its European matches, continuing their practice of playing away from their home in eastern Ukraine. The club last hosted a match at their Donbas home on May 2, 2014. Following the invasion by Russian-backed separatists, they adopted a nomadic approach, playing domestic matches in cities such as Lviv, Kharkiv, and Kyiv.

Following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Shakhtar’s European matches were relocated outside the country, with games hosted in Poland, Slovenia, and Germany. This season, the club aims to establish a base in London, which will be feasible as Chelsea’s men’s team has not qualified for European competition and the stadium is available during the necessary Champions League match windows.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn