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Shakhtar Donetsk to play Champions League matches at Schalke
Special cooperation in dark times: Because leading Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will still not be able to play their matches at their own stadium in the 2024/2025 season, FC Schalke 04 will host their games at the VELTINS-Arena. The Ukrainians will therefore play all Champions League matches at Schalke, both in the new-look league phase and possible later matches.
The Russian war of aggression has changed the reality of life for the Ukrainian people in a terrifying way. While the unlawful attack has been progressing since 2022 and with increasing destruction, millions of people from Ukraine are still forced to flee into an uncertain future. The city of Gelsenkirchen was and remains to this day a port of call for refugees seeking protection and safety far from home. Since the beginning of the war, FC Schalke 04 has supported initiatives and aid organizations that work to provide refugees in Gelsenkirchen with a safe home.
Both clubs also have similarities in their history due to their mining backgrounds. Good conditions for a constructive partnership. Matthias Tillmann, CEO of the Royal Blues: “We are very pleased about the cooperation and are proud that we can support Shakhtar Donetsk and make our stadium available as a venue for the matches in the Champions League. In addition, the tenancy also offers added value for our club at an economic level. Overall, this is a win-win situation for both clubs – we are very much looking forward to the matches and the collaboration.”
We are very pleased about the cooperation and are proud that we can support Shakhtar Donetsk and make our stadium available as a venue for the matches in the Champions League.
Serhii Palkin, General Director of FC Shakhtar, on the partnership: “We are delighted to be able to play our UEFA Champions League matches in one of the best stadiums in Germany. Last season’s positive experience shows that Shakhtar has strong support from the fans in this country, both from the locals and the Ukrainian refugees. This factor is very important for our club. We are grateful to the management of Schalke 04 and the city of Gelsenkirchen for their solidarity and have no doubts about our mutually beneficial cooperation. We are looking forward to the UEFA Champions League matches.”
As Ukrainian champions, Shakhtar Donetsk qualified for direct participation in the UEFA Champions League at the end of the 2023/2024 season. The matches in the league phase will take place on a total of eight matchdays between September 2024 and January 2025, four of which will be played in Gelsenkirchen. The opponents that head coach Marino Pusic’s team will face in the VELTINS-Arena will be drawn on 29th August. Shakhtar Donetsk fans will be accommodated in the north stand of the VELTINS-Arena, where they will find their home block away from home.
FC Schalke 04 will publish more information on ticket sales on its channels shortly.
