The match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Crystal Palace is a significant event in the Europa Conference League, taking place on April 30, 2026, in Krakow, Poland. This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams, with both sides facing unique challenges.
Shakhtar Donetsk leads the Ukrainian Premier League but deals with the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has impacted their home games. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace sits 13th in the Premier League and aims to secure a trophy in their first European season.
Oliver Glasner manages Crystal Palace, while Ismaila Sarr has been a standout player, scoring seven goals in this season’s Conference League. The betting odds favor Palace to win against the current leaders of the Ukrainian league.
In historical context, Shakhtar has faced English teams 18 times, winning just five of those matches. Their last encounter ended in a 2-2 draw against LNZ in their domestic league.
Crystal Palace’s recent form includes a disappointing 3-1 loss to Liverpool. They will look to bounce back and capitalize on Shakhtar’s potential vulnerabilities.
Predicted lineups:
Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk, Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko, Pedrinho and Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Sarr.
The match will be shown exclusively live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK. Despite Shakhtar’s strong league position, experts suggest that the ongoing war presents a major disadvantage that could affect their performance in European competition.
The outcome of this match could have significant implications for both teams as they navigate their respective leagues and competitions.
