Soccer-PSV held by Shakhtar, Fenerbahce draw with Roma on return to Champions League


Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Shakhtar Donetsk - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - September 10, 2026 PSV Eindhoven's Ivan Perisic looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

Sept 10 (Reuters) - PSV Eindhoven came ⁠from a goal down to draw 1-1 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and ⁠snap a woeful record in their opening matches of Champions League campaigns ‌on Thursday.

The Dutch club had lost their Matchday 1 fixtures in their last five Champions League appearances and trailed at halftime before Sergino Dest ensured a point.

In the other early kickoff on Thursday, Roma also ​drew 1-1 away at Fenerbahce.

Action was continuing later with ⁠Bayern Munich and Manchester United ⁠both getting their group-stage campaigns under way.

Right near the end of a cagey first half ⁠Shakhtar ‌stunned the hosts when Gleiker Mendoza cut in from wide and sent a stunning low shot beyond the dive of Matej Kovar.

PSV responded immediately after ⁠the break as the ball was fed across the area ​to Dest who calmly ‌found the bottom corner with an inch-perfect shot.

PSV could not find a way ⁠to record their ​first Matchday 1 victory since 2015, but at least they have started the campaign with a point as they seek to make up for last year's disappointing 28th position in the ⁠group phase.

Roma took the lead in Istanbul in the ​39th minute when Donyell Malen rolled a pass to Bryan Cristante who beat Ederson with a bouncing finish.

It was Cristante's first goal in the Champions League proper, 15 years since ⁠making his debut in the competition as a 16-year-old for Milan.

Fenerbahce, back in the Champions League after an 18-year absence, rallied though and equalised three minutes after halftime when Mason Greenwood slipped a pass through to Archie Brown who clipped a finish over ​Mile Svilar.

Roma were awarded a penalty in the 68th minute ⁠when Karem Akturkoglu was penalised for a foul on Paulo Dybala but a VAR ​check ruled that the challenge had taken place outside ‌the area.

Both sides went for the victory in ​a high-intensity second half and Fenerbahce came closest late on when Nathan Ake headed against the Roma crossbar.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)

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