Dest rescues PSV against Shakhtar as Brown cancels out Cristante to earn Fenerbahçe a point against Roma.
The opening Thursday fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase produced two 1-1 draws, with PSV Eindhoven held by Shakhtar Donetsk and Fenerbahçe sharing the points with Roma in Istanbul.
Both home sides fell behind before scoring shortly after half-time to avoid defeat.
The results gave all four teams one point from their opening league-phase matches. Reuters confirmed the two results in its Matchday 1 report.
Dest rescues PSV against Shakhtar
PSV were forced to recover after Shakhtar took the lead at the Philips Stadion.
Gleiker Mendoza opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, giving Shakhtar a 1-0 lead at the break.
The Ukrainian side had looked capable of securing an important away victory before PSV responded almost immediately after the restart.
Sergiño Dest equalised in the 48th minute, restoring parity and giving the Dutch champions momentum.
PSV pushed for a winner as the match progressed, but Shakhtar held firm to secure a point away from home.
The result also ended PSV’s run of five consecutive defeats in their opening Champions League matches, although they remain without a Matchday 1 victory since beating Manchester United in 2015.
For Shakhtar coach Arda Turan, the draw provided a positive start to his Champions League campaign as a manager.
Brown brings Fenerbahçe level against Roma
Fenerbahçe also had to come from behind in Istanbul as they marked their return to the Champions League proper.
Bryan Cristante put Roma ahead in the 39th minute, scoring his first Champions League goal after a move involving Donyell Malen.
Roma carried their advantage into half-time, but Fenerbahçe responded three minutes after the restart.
Archie Brown scored in the 48th minute after receiving a pass from Mason Greenwood, bringing the hosts level.
Brown’s goal had added significance for Fenerbahçe, who were appearing in the Champions League proper for the first time since the 2008/09 season. UEFA had identified the Istanbul fixture as one of the opening round’s notable returns to the competition.
The Turkish side continued to threaten after the equaliser but could not find a second goal.
Roma also had opportunities to regain the lead, leaving both sides to settle for a point.
Fenerbahçe make encouraging return
The draw gives Fenerbahçe a respectable start to their first Champions League league-phase campaign since their previous appearance in the competition proper.
The club’s response after conceding was particularly important. Brown’s early second-half equaliser prevented Roma from controlling the game after taking the lead.
The result also means Fenerbahçe avoided defeat in a fixture that carried considerable significance for the club and its supporters.
Roma, meanwhile, will see the result as a point gained away from home, although their failure to protect the first-half lead means they missed the chance to begin with a victory.
Two draws leave four teams level
The two results leave PSV, Shakhtar, Fenerbahçe and Roma with one point each after their opening fixtures.
For Shakhtar and Roma, away draws provide useful starts against opponents playing in front of home supporters.
PSV and Fenerbahçe, however, may view their results differently after both recovered from losing positions.
The early standings are unlikely to tell the full story in a league phase that requires each club to play eight matches. UEFA’s fixture schedule confirms that PSV and Shakhtar will each face seven further opponents, while Roma and Fenerbahçe also have seven league-phase matches remaining.
The next fixtures will therefore provide a clearer indication of whether the opening points represent a solid foundation or missed opportunities.
What happens next
Fenerbahçe’s next Champions League fixture is away to Aston Villa on October 14, while Roma will host Real Madrid on the same date.
Shakhtar will host AEK Athens, while PSV travel to RB Leipzig in the next round of league-phase fixtures.
With the league phase decided across multiple matchdays, all four clubs will now look to turn their opening points into stronger positions before the knockout-stage places are determined.
