Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk marked their debut at their new Champions League venue with a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory over AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening.
Thousands of supporters packed into Chelsea's stadium to back the displaced club, whose players emerged from the tunnel carrying Ukraine's blue-and-yellow national colours. The atmosphere reflected both celebration and resilience as the team christened their temporary European home.
The visitors from Greece struck first when Lovro Majer found the net in the 28th minute. However, Shakhtar's response came swiftly as Pedrinho converted from the penalty spot just six minutes later to restore parity.
The Ukrainian side completed their turnaround in the closing stages. Vinicius Tobias broke the deadlock from a narrow angle with roughly 10 minutes remaining, before substitute Gleiker Mendoza sealed the result with a powerful finish after cutting inside from the left flank.
The victory puts Shakhtar on four points from two matches in the league phase, following their opening draw against PSV Eindhoven. The club's chief executive Sergei Palkin had stated before the match that using the stadium of the two-time European champions would help keep Ukraine's wartime struggles in the public consciousness.
Shakhtar's nomadic existence began in 2014 when they abandoned their Donbas Arena home after pro-Russian separatists took control of Donetsk. Since then, the club has staged home European fixtures across various locations including other Ukrainian cities, Poland, Germany and Slovenia due to ongoing security concerns.
London emerged as a logical choice for their new base. According to the Ukrainian embassy, Britain has welcomed 265,000 Ukrainian refugees since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The sizeable expatriate community turned out in force, with 29,000 fans attending - approximately 11,000 below the venue's capacity.
Among the supporters was 20-year-old student James Upson, whose family bridges both Ukrainian and British heritage. He described watching his team perform at such a prestigious venue as a blessing, despite the unfortunate circumstances preventing matches in their homeland.
Seventeen-year-old Marta Palas highlighted how many of her peers remain unaware that the conflict continues. She noted that the situation has intensified since 2022, contrary to perceptions that it has subsided.
Serzh Dadizha, a 22-year-old Ukrainian student in Britain, expressed his desire to contribute from the stands like a 12th player rather than merely spectating.
One supporter who goes by the nickname Snoop travelled from Finland specifically for the match. The 26-year-old explained that his connection to the club formed as a teenager when he witnessed events unfolding in the Donbas region, creating a deep emotional bond.
The 2009 UEFA Cup winners and last season's Conference League semi-finalists will next host Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge, followed by fixtures against Fenerbahce and Real Madrid at their temporary London home.
