Shakhtar Donetsk will play its home matches of the next 2024/25 Champions League football season at Schalke 04’s stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, both clubs announced today.
Thus, the Ukrainian champion will play four of its eight home matches of the group stage in the new “Champions” format at the AufSchalke Arena stadium, which has a capacity of 62,000 spectators.
The agreement between the two clubs also stipulates that the Ukrainian team will play its home playoff matches in Gelsenkirchen if the team reaches the 1/8 finals of the tournament.
The Donetsk team have not played a home match in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of the country in 2022, with their last two games taking place first in Warsaw and then, last season, in Hamburg.
“We are delighted to host our Champions League games at one of the best stadiums in Germany. The positive experience of last season showed that Shakhtar has strong support from fans in this country – both local and Ukrainian refugees,” explained the club’s executive director Sergei Palkin. club.
Shakhtar have had to move their international games out of Ukraine, where they have not played since 2014 in Donetsk, as it has been part of a conflict zone claimed by pro-Russian separatists since then.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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