PSV Eindhoven will host Shakhtar Donetsk at Philips Stadium for their first match in the League Phase of the 2026-27 Champions League on Thursday evening. This matchup marks the first encounter between these teams since November 2024, when PSV staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 3-2 victory in the League Phase, scoring all three goals in the final minutes of the match. PSV Eindhoven has solidified its position as the top team in the Netherlands, clinching the Eredivisie title for three consecutive seasons and finishing a remarkable 19 points ahead of their closest rivals, Feyenoord, to claim their 27th top-flight championship in 2025-26. Head coach Peter Bosz faces the challenge of enhancing PSV’s European performance, as the team only managed to win two out of eight League Phase matches in last season’s Champions League (D2 L4), finishing in 28th place and missing out on the knockout stage. This season marks PSV's 20th appearance in the Champions League, setting a new record for Dutch clubs. However, they have struggled in their last five opening matches in the competition, with their last victory on matchday one occurring in 2015-16 against Manchester United, where they triumphed 2-1 at home. Recent home performances in European competitions have not been favorable for PSV, as they have lost four of their last five Champions League matches in Eindhoven (W1), conceding a total of 17 goals. Nevertheless, they can take solace in their successful history against Ukrainian teams, having won their last three encounters in the UCL against such opponents. Entering the match against Shakhtar, PSV is in good form, having won four and drawn one of their first five Eredivisie games this season. They recently achieved a commanding 6-1 victory over Utrecht, followed by a 3-1 win against Ajax, which has propelled them to second place in the league standings.