Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace Matchup
On April 30, 2026, Donetsk-based football club Shakhtar will face London's Crystal Palace in the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League semifinals. The match is set to take place at the Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland, with the online broadcast beginning at 10:00 PM Kyiv time. Viewers can watch the game on the Megogo platform, specifically via the Megogo Football 1 channel.
Bookmaker Predictions and Team Form
According to odds from bookmakers GGBET, Shakhtar's chances of winning are priced at 3.88, while Crystal Palace's victory is set at 2.08. A draw carries odds of 3.43. For advancing to the final, Shakhtar's odds stand at 3.15, compared to Crystal Palace's 1.38. Additionally, the odds for under 1.0 total goals are listed at 6.54.
The teams have taken very different paths to reach this stage. Shakhtar entered the playoffs in the Round of 16, where they defeated Lech Poznan with scores of 3:1 and 1:2. In the quarterfinals, they overcame AZ Alkmaar with results of 3:0 and 2:2. Goals for Shakhtar in the quarterfinals were scored by:
- Pedrinho
- Alisson (twice)
- Meirelles
Crystal Palace, making their European competition debut this season, started in the preliminary playoff round. The team advanced past Zrinjski (Bosnia) with scores of 1:1 and 2:0, as well as AEK Larnaca with results of 0:0 and 2:1 (after extra time). In the quarterfinals, Crystal Palace defeated Fiorentina with scores of 3:0 and 1:2. Goals for the London side in the quarterfinals were scored by:
- Mateta
- Mitchell
- Sarr (twice)
During the league phase, Crystal Palace beat Kyiv's Dynamo (2:0), with goals from Munoz and Nketiah.
Regarding head-to-head history, Shakhtar has played 19 matches against English clubs, losing 10 of them. However, they have recorded notable victories against Arsenal (twice), Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City. In the previous campaign, Shakhtar lost to Arsenal (0:1) in the Champions League.
Shakhtar's projected lineup includes:
- Riznyk
- Tobias
- Bondar
- Matviienko
- Pedro Henrique
- Pedrinho
- Gomes
- Ocheretko
- Alisson
- Elias
- Eguinaldo
Shakhtar's head coach is Arda Turan. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's likely starting eleven is:
- Henderson
- Richards
- Lacroix
- Kanwo
- Munoz
- Kamada
- Wharton
- Mitchell
- Sarr
- Pino
- Mateta
Crystal Palace's manager is Oliver Glasner.
This semifinal is a major milestone for both clubs. Shakhtar is looking to reassert itself on the European stage, while Crystal Palace aims to build on its impressive debut season in continental competition. Games at this level always test a team's resolve, and the outcomes could significantly shape each club's future trajectory and international reputation.
As the anticipation builds for the upcoming clash, fans can gain deeper insights into the match dynamics and team strategies by exploring our detailed coverage on Shakhtar's path to the semifinals. Understanding the previous encounters and performance trends may provide valuable context for this pivotal showdown.