The opening week of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League concludes on Thursday the 10th of September with two standout fixtures catching our eye.
PSV Eindhoven welcome Shakhtar Donetsk before Manchester United face Sabah Baku at Old Trafford. We take a closer look at both encounters from a betting perspective below.
PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk – Click here to bet
Recent Form
PSV Eindhoven have recovered strongly after beginning their competitive campaign with a heavy 4-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar in the Johan Cruyff Shield.
They opened the Eredivisie season with a 2-2 home draw against Sittard before recording four successive victories. PSV defeated Excelsior 2-1 and Groningen 5-1 before cruising to a 6-1 win away to Utrecht. They maintained their momentum by beating Ajax 3-1 in their latest outing.
Shakhtar Donetsk have made a positive start to their 2026/27 domestic campaign, winning four of their opening five league fixtures.
They began with consecutive victories over Kudrivka, Epitsentr and FC Kharkiv before suffering a 2-0 home defeat against Polissya Zhytomyr. Shakhtar responded well in their most recent match, claiming a narrow 2-1 victory away to Karpaty Lviv.
Head-to-Head
The only previous competitive meeting between these clubs took place during the 2024/25 Champions League campaign.
Shakhtar established a two goal advantage in Eindhoven but PSV produced a dramatic late comeback to secure a 3-2 victory on home soil.
Match Odds (1X2)
PSV Eindhoven: 1.44
Draw: 5.25
Shakhtar Donetsk: 6.75
Verdict
Both sides enter the contest in good domestic form, although PSV’s recent attacking performances make them difficult to oppose. The Dutch champions have scored 14 goals across their last three matches and will also take confidence from their previous comeback victory over Shakhtar. I believe PSV’s attacking quality and home advantage should carry them to another victory in a high scoring affair.
BET: Result and Totals – PSV Eindhoven and Over 2.5 Goals at 1.83
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Manchester United vs Sabah Baku – Click here to bet
Recent Form
Manchester United have collected four points from their opening three Premier League fixtures following an inconsistent start to the new season.
They began with a 2-0 defeat away to Hull City before responding with a dominant 5-2 home victory over Ipswich Town. United then travelled to Everton in their latest appearance, where they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Sabah Baku have already played six Champions League qualifying matches and arrive at Old Trafford in excellent form across all competitions.
They overcame TNS and KuPS before defeating Aarhus 5-2 on aggregate. Sabah then recovered from a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Hapoel Beer Sheva by winning the return fixture 5-2. Their strong run has continued domestically with victories over Kapaz, Araz and Zira, scoring eight goals without reply across their last three league matches.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first competitive meeting between Manchester United and Sabah Baku.
Match Odds (1X2)
Manchester United: 1.12
Draw: 11.00
Sabah Baku: 23.00
Verdict
Sabah deserve respect after navigating three qualifying rounds and winning each of their last four matches. However, travelling to Old Trafford represents a major increase in difficulty. Manchester United have displayed defensive weaknesses during the opening weeks of the season but their superior quality and home advantage should prove decisive. I expect the hosts to control the contest and begin their European campaign with a comfortable victory although I do see Sabah Baku offering resistance and hopefully finding the net.
BET: Result and Both Teams to Score – Manchester United and Yes at 2.50
Odds correct at time of writing but subject to change.
