PSV Eindhoven v Shakhtar Donetsk preview

Contrasting momentum

PSV arrive in sharp form, having won four of their last five recent matches and drawn the other. That run includes consecutive victories by 5-1, 6-1 and 3-1 margins, though the competition those results came in is not recorded. Shakhtar's recent run points the other way: one win, one draw and three defeats from their last five. The sides met once in late 2024, PSV winning 3-2 in a match that produced five goals.

What the market expects

The market-implied probability has PSV as clear favourites at 64.2 per cent, with the draw at 19.9 per cent and a Shakhtar win at 15.9 per cent. That assessment tracks the recent form: PSV unbeaten in five and scoring freely, Shakhtar losing three of five and yet to play a competitive fixture since early May. A win here would take either side to three points from one match; a draw to one point from one; a defeat to zero from one. Both are starting level, but the table already shows six sides on three points with superior goal difference, so an opening-night slip would leave ground to make up.

We are covering this one live. Follow it with us in the match centre for the line-ups when they land, the goals as they go in, and the full timeline.