Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will play their UEFA Champions League home matches at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge this season as the club continues to deal with the challenges of hosting European fixtures in Ukraine.
The decision will see Shakhtar temporarily use the London stadium as their home venue, giving the Ukrainian side the opportunity to compete in Europe at one of football’s most iconic grounds.
Shakhtar confirmed the arrangement on Friday, expressing gratitude to Chelsea for making Stamford Bridge available for their Champions League campaign.
“Playing our Champions League home matches at Stamford Bridge is a special opportunity for Shakhtar. We are grateful to Chelsea Football Club for the opportunity to host our games at this special venue,” the club said.
The decision is largely linked to the security challenges surrounding football in Ukraine, which have continued to make it difficult for Ukrainian clubs to host European matches on home soil.
Rather than surrender home advantage or play their fixtures in another Ukrainian city, Shakhtar have opted for Stamford Bridge, allowing the club to maintain a stable base for their Champions League matches while providing their players and supporters with a world-class football environment.
The arrangement also creates an unusual connection between the Ukrainian club and Chelsea, with Stamford Bridge set to host Shakhtar’s European home fixtures during the campaign.
Shakhtar have previously been forced to play their European home matches away from their traditional base because of the ongoing security situation in Ukraine.
The club thanked Chelsea for the opportunity, describing the use of Stamford Bridge as a special occasion as they prepare to face Europe’s top clubs.
The agreement means Shakhtar’s opponents will travel to London for matches in which the Ukrainian side will be officially designated as the home team.
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