Shakhtar make winning start at new Champions League 'home'

Stadium ground in London welcomed Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine's reigning champions, as they made a triumphant return to their new Champions League home. Fans from across the city turned out in droves to show their unwavering support for the team, who entered the stadium wearing blue and yellow national flags. AEK Athens took an early 28th-minute lead through Lovro Majer, but local hero Pedrinho equalized just six minutes later with a penalty.

Vinicius Tobias sealed the victory for Shakhtar with a goal from a tight angle in the final minutes, and substitute Gleiker Mendoza completed the win shortly after. This victory puts Shakhtar at four points after two games, following a draw against PSV Eindhoven. The club is using Chelsea's home ground as their base for European fixtures this season, as the war-torn nation's Donbas Arena in Donetsk was seized by pro-Russia separatists in 2014.

Shakhtar has since played home European matches in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Slovenia. The team's chief executive, Sergei Palkin, emphasized that playing at Chelsea's stadium would keep the war visible for the nation's citizens. The fans' presence swelled the crowd to 29,000, with many ex-pat Ukrainians in London attending the match.

Shakhtar, who have won the UEFA Cup in 2009 and the Conference League semi-final in 2022, will next host Sporting Lisbon, followed by Fenerbahce and Real Madrid.