Shakhtar Donetsk vs AEK Athens FC: Varga Sidelined

Shakhtar DonetskSHA

Pedrinho 34' (pen)
Vinícius Tobias 80'
Gleiker Mendoza 86'

UEFA Champions League

3–1

Full Time

HT 1–1

Stamford Bridge

London

AEK Athens FCAEK

Lovro Majer 28'

AI ForecastsGraded

Shakhtar Donetsk host AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge in a matchweek-two contest between two sides who look closely matched. Shakhtar drew their opener having created little, while AEK have been the steadier side across their last ten, losing none of them and keeping a clean sheet…

Match ResultAway Win37%

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Match Stats

Top Stats

1.37xG1.10

54%Possession46%

12 (4)Shots (on target)13 (3)

1Big Chances Created5

Attacking Play

1.94xG on Target1.23

0.54Expected Assists (xA)1.09

48Final Third Entries39

15Penalty Area Entries18

Possession & Passing

447 · 90%Passes (accuracy)368 · 85%

5Corners2

27Poss. Won — Def 3rd18

16Poss. Won — Mid 3rd17

Duels & Pressing

44 (45%)Duels Won54 (55%)

4 (33%)Aerial Duels Won8 (67%)

50Ball Recoveries44

7.7PPDA (Pressing)12.5

Defending & Discipline

2Saves1

16Fouls17

+0.23Goals Prevented-1.06

Shakhtar Donetsk vs AEK Athens FC: Varga Sidelined

#	Team	P	GD	Pts
11	Shakhtar Donetsk	2	2	4
20	AEK Athens FC	2	-1	3

Published Wed 14 Oct

Shakhtar Donetsk meet AEK Athens FC in matchweek 2 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, at Stamford Bridge in London, with the Greek side arriving without top scorer Barnabás Varga.

Four Shakhtar injuries after opening draw

Shakhtar Donetsk sit 23rd in the Champions League table after taking 1 point from their opening match, a 1-1 draw away at PSV Eindhoven on 10 September 2026. The Ukrainian club managed a level goal difference in Eindhoven but suffered significant squad attrition heading into this contest.

Four players are ruled out through injury for Shakhtar Donetsk: Alaa Ghram, Diego Arroyo, Eguinaldo, and Marlon. Their absences leave holes across multiple positions as the club plays this designated home fixture in London.

AEK Athens unbeaten across five matches

AEK Athens FC enter 17th in the Champions League standings with 3 points, having secured a 1-0 victory at home over Lask Linz on 8 September 2026. That result was part of a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions that includes three Super League 1 wins—5-0 over Aris Thessalonikis on 5 September, 2-1 against Volos NFC on 20 September, and 3-0 against OFI on 10 October—alongside a 1-1 draw at Asteras Tripolis on 13 September.

Over their last five games with chance data, AEK Athens FC have generated an average of 2.23 expected goals per game while allowing only 0.88. However, they must adjust their attack without Barnabás Varga, who leads the club with 6 goals in all competitions this season but is sidelined with an injury alongside Thomas Strakosha.

Our model leans narrowly towards an AEK Athens FC win

Our forecasting model leans narrowly towards an AEK Athens FC win. AEK Athens FC bring superior underlying chance numbers and four victories from their last five outings into the match, while Shakhtar Donetsk are managing without Alaa Ghram, Diego Arroyo, Eguinaldo, and Marlon. Even so, the low confidence in the call reflects the disruption caused by the absence of Varga, whose 6 goals have driven the visiting side's attack this season.

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