All the ingredients are in place for Thursday’s UEFA Champions League clash between PSV Eindhoven and FC Shakhtar Donetsk to produce a lively opening to both sides’ League Phase campaigns.
PSV enter the contest in great form after winning four Eredivisie games in a row, including a 3-1 defeat of AFC Ajax in Amsterdam last Saturday.
Peter Bosz’s side have scored 18 goals in their first five league matches this season, but cannot seem to keep a clean sheet.
Their defensive structure will be tested by a Shakhtar side that reached the Conference League semi-finals and stormed clear at the top of the Ukrainian Premier League table last term.
Arda Turan was able to keep almost all of his squad together over the summer and the club have since added three exciting Brazilian talents to bolster their bid for glory.
PSV will be without suspended captain Mauro Junior, who was sent off when they were eliminated from last season's UEFA Champions League by FC Bayern München.
Bosz will also have to do without injured stars Dennis Man, Sami Ouaissa, Alassane Plaa and Kiliann Sidillia against Shakhtar.
However, summer signings Lutsharel Geertruida, Filip Kostic and Kodai Sano could make their European debuts for the club.
A good start to the competition is imperative for PSV, who have lost on Matchday One in every one of their last five appearances in the League Phase/Group Stage.
But they finished strongly when these sides last met in 2024, coming from two goals down in the 87th minute to win 3-2.
PSV Eindhoven v FC Shakhtar Donetsk Tips Summary
Best Bet - PSV to win & both teams to score @ 13/8
Alternative Bet - PSV to score in both halves @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Ricardo Pepi to score anytime, Alisson Santana 2+ shots & Shakhtar 4+ corners @ 25/4
PSV Eindhoven v FC Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction
Best Bet: PSV to win & both teams to score @ 13/8
PSV will hope their domestic dominance translates into this competition too, but they could be punished more severely for their defensive lapses in Europe.
Bosz's side were fortunate that Ajax were so profligate at the weekend when their opponents converted only one of their four big chances and six efforts on target.
PSV have taken 13 points from their opening five Eredivisie fixtures, scoring 18 goals but conceding in every match.
They also lost 4-0 to AZ in the annual curtain-raiser to the Dutch campaign - the Johan Cruyff Shield.
Shakhtar, meanwhile, come into this in solid form after winning four of their first five Ukrainian Premier League matches.
The Pitmen have registered in all three of their away trips and look capable of getting on the scoresheet in Eindhoven too.
Turan's men bagged in all six of their road games from the League Phase onwards in last season's Conference League, hitting three at Lech Poznan in the round of 16 and two at AZ in the quarter-finals.
Their counter‑attacking threat is real, their wide players are dangerous, and spearhead Kaua Elias has begun the season in sharp form.
But PSV’s firepower - led by Ricardo Pepi, Ruben van Bommel and the returning Sam Lammers - should ultimately prove decisive.
Alternative Bet: PSV to score in both halves @ 10/11
PSV have scored in both halves in their last four games and are averaging more than three goals per match this season.
Their attacking patterns - especially down the left with Van Bommel - create sustained pressure throughout the 90 minutes.
Bosz's side, backed by a partisan crowd at home, should be able to create plenty of chances against the visitors.
Shakhtar have conceded multiple goals in three of their last six European away games, including strikes in both halves in two of them.
PSV Eindhoven v FC Shakhtar Donetsk Bet Builder Tip
Ricardo Pepi to score anytime
Alisson Santana 2+ shots
Shakhtar 4+ corners
Pays 25/4
Pepi is in great form for PSV and the American striker will have fond memories of the last time he faced Shakhtar in that 2024 classic.
After coming on as a half-time substitute, he capped a remarkable late revival with the 95th-minute winner.
He takes penalties and, with three goals in his last four appearances, looks the obvious candidate to get another on Thursday.
Shakhtar will not be afraid to commit a few bodies to their attacks and they rarely head home without having given it a go.
Alisson Santana, who had multiple efforts in each leg of their Conference League semi-final against Crystal Palace last season, scored at the weekend and could register two or more shots again.
Shakhtar's away form includes high corner counts, driven by their direct transitions and willingness to commit numbers forward, so four corners should also be well within reach.
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Key Match Stats
PSV Eindhoven have conceded in six consecutive matches
PSV are unbeaten in five straight games, winning four
FC Shakhtar Donetsk have won three consecutive away matches
Shakhtar have scored in three straight away fixtures
PSV have lost their last five UEFA Champions League Matchday One games
PSV beat Shakhtar 3‑2 in their only previous meeting, scoring three goals after the 87th minute
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
