Shakhtar wants to play its Champions League home games at Chelsea's stadium
Shakhtar Donetsk is considering London’s Stamford Bridge as its primary venue for home matches in next season’s Champions League. The club is already in talks with Chelsea, but no final decision has been made yet. In addition, the “Miners” have two other options in London.
The Donetsk club plans to host its Champions League home matches in London. One of the main options for Shakhtar is Stamford Bridge—Chelsea’s home stadium. According to the BBC, negotiations between the two clubs are already underway. However, an agreement has not yet been reached, so it is too early to say for certain that Shakhtar will play at Chelsea’s stadium.
The Donetsk club doesn’t have much time to make a final decision. Shakhtar must decide on its home venue for the next Champions League season as early as next week.
What other stadiums is the club considering?
Stamford Bridge isn’t the only option. Shakhtar is also considering two other London venues: Brentford and Fulham. Both clubs also play their home games in London.
Thus, the “Miners” want to remain in the British capital, but the final choice will depend on negotiations and the organizational capabilities of each stadium. For Shakhtar, the issue of a home stadium is particularly important, as the team cannot play European matches at its home stadium in Donetsk due to the full-scale war.
Why Stamford Bridge Might Be a Convenient Option
Stamford Bridge is one of London’s most famous soccer stadiums and the home stadium of Chelsea. However, the London club itself will not be competing in European competitions next season. Last season, Chelsea finished the English Premier League in only tenth place.
This could simplify negotiations regarding the use of the stadium for Shakhtar’s matches. At the same time, the final terms of the lease and other organizational details have not yet been disclosed. If an agreement is reached, Shakhtar will be able to host European opponents at one of the world’s most famous soccer stadiums. For now, the club must choose between Stamford Bridge and two other London stadiums. A decision is expected as early as next week, according to the BBC.
As a reminder, on August 11, Elina Svitolina defeated Russia’s Katerina Aleksandrova in the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto and advanced to the semifinals. The Ukrainian lost the first set but staged a comeback to win the match in three sets—3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Prior to that, Ukraine’s top-ranked player, Elina Svitolina, secured a victory in the round of 16 at the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament being held in Toronto.
