Shakhtar Donetsk faces Crystal Palace on April 30, 2026, marking their first-ever meeting in a European competition. This match takes place in Warsaw, Poland, as part of the semi-final first leg of the Conference League.
Shakhtar Donetsk is competing in their maiden Conference League campaign. They have an impressive record against English teams, securing five wins from nine matches. Their last encounter with an English side ended in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, won the FA Cup last season under manager Oliver Glasner. However, they faced an unexpected exit from this year’s FA Cup after being eliminated by non-league side Macclesfield.
The stakes are high for both teams. Shakhtar aims to solidify their status in European football despite ongoing challenges due to the war in Ukraine. Crystal Palace looks to bounce back from their FA Cup disappointment.
Key statistics:
- Shakhtar Donetsk has five wins against English teams out of nine total matches.
- Crystal Palace boasts six wins in the Conference League, five of which were by a margin of two or more goals.
- The match will be streamed for free in Turkey on TRT1 via Tabii.
- In the UK, viewers can watch live on TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max.
- In the US, the match is available for streaming on Paramount+.
The starting XI for Shakhtar includes players like Riznyk, Tobias, and Kauã Elias. Crystal Palace features Henderson, Richards, and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
FourFourTwo predicts a big win for the Eagles in Warsaw. However, uncertainties remain regarding how both teams will adapt to this high-pressure situation during their first-ever clash.
