Why Shakhtar Donetsk are playing AEK Athens at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge this week

Champions League football is back at Stamford Bridge this week – but Chelsea won’t be involved. Instead, the Blues ‘ home is being used by Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk , who continue their Champions League campaign against AEK Athens on Wednesday. Why are Shakhtar Donetsk playing at Stamford Bridge? Shakhtar have been unable to play at their own ground, the Donbas Arena, since 2024 due to conflict in the region. And while they still play domestic games in Ukraine, basing themselves in the western city of Lviv, they’ve led a more nomadic existence in continental competition.